indianamuslims.org

The Muslim Alliance of Indiana (MAI) is a statewide grassroots organization and was founded after September 11, 2001.  During the aftermath of 9/11, Muslims were misunderstood, targeted with hate crimes, racially profiled, and politically and socially isolated.  While there was a local response to these problems they were not coordinated resulting in a great deal of inefficiency.  A number of concerned Muslim community leaders began MAI as a means to creating a more positive image of Muslims and Islam and making Indiana a more dynamic and vibrant state through the civic involvement of Muslim Hoosiers. 

MAI was established with several purposes in mind.  Firstly, MAI was established as a means to changing the negative public image of Muslims.  Secondly, it connected Muslims across the state, giving them a collective voice.  Also, it enabled Muslims to reach out to political and interfaith leaders, educating them about Islam and Muslims and collaborating with them on efforts to bring about positive social change.  Furthermore, it facilitated the outreach of Muslims to law enforcement to better assist victims of civil rights and hate crimes.  For the first few years, MAI functioned as an unincorporated institution.  In 2005, MAI became incorporated, receiving 501(c)(3) status in 2008.

In 2004, MAI began to proactively outreach to public leaders and elected officials.  In that year, MAI established effective communication with the office of Governor Mitch Daniels.  This relationship opened the door to the first annual Governor’s Iftaar and a Muslim Day at the Indiana State House.   The Governor’s Iftar is an annual event that brings together Muslims from across Indiana to celebrate the breaking of the fast with Governor Mitch Daniels.  In 2005 MAI established a formal relationship with the FBI-Indiana with a liaison designated for communication between the two institutions.

MAI also took a leading role with civil rights and hate crimes investigations.  In 2006, a mosque in Northwest Indiana was vandalized, yet no local officials treated the matter a possible hate crime until MAI contacted local and state officials and followed up with their investigations.   MAI also involved the Governor’s office about the vandalism, asking them office to condemn the incident.  Also in 2006 in Merrillville, Indiana, MAI became involved with the murder of Naseeb Mohammed; his family and community members feared that he was a victim of a violent hate crime.  Because law enforcement was nonresponsive to the family’s and Muslim community’s fears, MAI stepped in to request FBI-Indiana that local, state, and federal officials investigate the matter more closely and respond in a more appropriate manner to the community’s well founded concerns.  This outreach resulting in the matter being the focus of a FBI, state and local authorities.

In 2007, MAI accelerated its outreach efforts.  It launched the The Muslim Hoosier, a magazine that is sent out to ten thousand Hoosiers, including libraries across the state of Indiana, Congressmen, Senators, State Representatives, Mayors, Prosecutors, Law Enforcement Agencies, and over 8000 Indiana Muslims.  The distribution of this magazine across the state of Indiana has been useful in educating non-Muslims about Muslims and Islam.  It also shows the strong profile of Muslims in Indiana, and connects Muslims across the state of Indiana.  MAI also sends out a regular eNews brief which reaches an audience of 2000 Muslim Hoosiers.  MAI also hosted its first annual convention in 2007, which was deemed a success in the local press.  The Indianapolis Star editorial board in addition to covering the event issued an editorial position stating “Myths must give way to acceptance of Indiana Muslims… May the stereotypes, rather than the facts, continue to take a beating.”

In 2007, MAI established a partnership with the Islamic Society of North America to intervene on behalf of Muslim women in Kentucky who were religiously discriminated by White Lodging Corporation (WLC).   WLC had refused to meet with representatives of the major Islamic organizations.  This company had requested public subsidies.  The EEOC filed suit against WLC.  MAI had also established a relationship with Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson in 2004.  MAI contacted the mayor’s office and raised concerns about WLC.  Mayor Peterson’s office pursued the matter and received assurances from WLC that this kind of practice will not take place at the Indiana hotels .  Furthermore, WLC finally agreed to meet with members of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana.  With this grant, MAI would like to continue to educate employers and employees about Islam and Muslims in the workplace.  MAI also plans to continue to hold employers accountable when discrimination occurs in the workplace.