MSA is primarily a campus-based organization focused on supporting Muslim students through religious, cultural, and community activities. Its historical ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, as noted in a 1991 memorandum uncovered during the Holy Land Foundation trial, have led to scrutiny, but its modern chapters are largely autonomous and focus on fostering community and advocacy. Many MSA alumni have transitioned into leadership roles in Muslim community organizations, such as the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and the Muslim American Society (MAS), rather than mainstream political parties. However, some have engaged in U.S. politics, particularly in advocacy or local roles, though few are explicitly identified as prominent figures in the Republican or Democratic parties.
A notable figure associated with the Muslim American Society (MAS), which was founded by MSA alumni, Abdullahi serves as a district delegate to the California Democratic Party assembly. While not explicitly confirmed as an MSA member herself, her leadership in MAS, an organization closely linked to MSA’s network, suggests a connection. She has also held senior positions at the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans, advocating for immigration reform, and serves on boards like the Muslim Leadership Council of San Diego and the San Diego County Water Authority. Her role in the Democratic Party is at the local level, reflecting MSA’s broader influence in community organizing rather than national prominence.
While not directly confirmed as an MSA alumna, Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), elected to Congress in 2018, is often associated with Muslim advocacy networks that overlap with MSA’s sphere. Tlaib, one of the first Muslim women in Congress, has roots in Detroit’s Muslim community, where MSA chapters are active. Her advocacy for Palestinian rights and social justice aligns with the activism seen in some MSA chapters, particularly in pro-Palestinian events. However, no primary source confirms her MSA membership, and her prominence in the Democratic Party stems more from her congressional role than direct MSA ties.
Similarly, Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN), elected in 2018, is a prominent Muslim figure in the Democratic Party but lacks documented MSA membership. Omar’s activism and community engagement in Minnesota’s Muslim community, where MSA chapters exist, suggest potential overlap, but no evidence directly links her to MSA. Her high-profile role in Congress makes her a notable figure, though any MSA connection is speculative.
Evidence of MSA alumni in prominent Republican Party roles is even scarcer, reflecting the party’s historically lower engagement with Muslim American communities compared to Democrats.
A controversial figure, al-Arian, a former professor, claimed to have delivered the Muslim vote to the Republican Party in 2000, particularly in Florida, through his community organizing. While associated with the Muslim Brotherhood network and linked to MSA through its broader ecosystem, al-Arian’s specific MSA membership is not explicitly confirmed. His engagement with Republicans was strategic, aimed at influencing U.S. policy, but his later conviction for supporting the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (a terrorist organization) overshadows any Republican Party prominence. His case illustrates the Brotherhood’s interest in political influence but does not establish him as a prominent Republican figure.
The Republican Party has fewer Muslim elected officials or prominent figures compared to the Democratic Party. No high-profile Republican politicians are directly tied to MSA in available sources. The party’s platform and historical tensions with Muslim advocacy groups, particularly post-9/11, may limit MSA alumni pursuing prominent roles within it. Some MSA alumni may engage in Republican politics at the local level, but no specific names or roles are documented in the provided references or broader public records.
MSA alumni often gravitate toward Muslim community organizations (e.g., ISNA, MAS) or advocacy roles rather than mainstream political party leadership. For example, many alumni have founded or led groups like the Islamic Circle of North America or the Association of Muslim Scientists and Engineers, which prioritize religious and cultural goals over partisan politics.
Allegations of MSA’s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and individuals like Aafia Siddiqui (an al-Qaeda member active in MSA at MIT) or Ziyad Khaleel (linked to al-Qaeda via MSA at Columbia College) have led to scrutiny, potentially deterring alumni from seeking high-profile political roles. These cases, while outliers, overshadow MSA’s broader contributions and may discourage public association with the organization.
MSA chapters do not typically publicize comprehensive alumni lists, and political figures rarely highlight past student affiliations unless relevant to their public persona. This makes it difficult to identify specific MSA alumni in prominent party roles without extensive primary research, such as interviews or membership records, which are not publicly available.
Political Climate: Muslim Americans, including MSA alumni, tend to lean Democratic due to the party’s stronger emphasis on civil rights and inclusion, as seen with figures like Abdullahi. The Republican Party’s limited engagement with Muslim communities, combined with policies perceived as hostile (e.g., post-9/11 surveillance), may reduce MSA alumni’s involvement in Republican politics.
The narrative around MSA’s influence in U.S. politics is often shaped by critics who emphasize its historical Brotherhood ties, as seen in reports from groups like the Center for Security Policy or Discover the Networks. These sources may exaggerate MSA’s political impact to paint it as a radical force, while ignoring its evolution into a more inclusive, student-focused organization. Conversely, MSA’s own materials and supporters highlight its role in fostering community and education, downplaying political affiliations. The truth likely lies in a nuanced middle ground: MSA has produced leaders who engage in advocacy and community organizing, some of whom enter politics (e.g., Abdullahi in the Democratic Party), but few achieve prominence within the Republican or Democratic Party structures due to the organization’s primary focus on campus life.
While MSA has influenced Muslim American community leadership, with alumni founding organizations like ISNA and MAS, there is limited evidence of prominent alumni in high-profile roles within the Republican or Democratic parties. Ismahan Abdullahi’s role as a Democratic Party delegate in California is a notable example, though her direct MSA membership is unconfirmed. Figures like Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, while prominent Democrats, lack documented MSA ties. In the Republican Party, no clear examples emerge, with Sami al-Arian’s case being an outlier tied to controversy rather than prominence. The scarcity of data reflects MSA’s focus on community over partisan politics and the challenges of tracing student affiliations to later careers.
Editorial comments expressed in this column are the sole opinion of the writer.
