A vote of confidence

Alex Coolman

COSTA MESA -- In a humble office building on Airport Loop Road, as jet

engines bellow like distant monsters, Mohammad Taqii holds a voter

registration form in the air.

“There’s a very important bill coming up,” he tells the assembled

crowd, the congregation of the Islamic Education Center of Orange County.

Both men and women are in their stocking feet. The women are draped in

colorful shawls that cover their heads and shoulders.

Taqii tells them about a bill -- it’s Proposition 38, although he

doesn’t name it -- that could potentially make it easier for parents to

send their children to specially oriented schools.

Prop. 38 would offer taxpayer-funded vouchers up to $4,000 for

students who attend private schools.

Parents who want their kids to get a Muslim education, Taqii says,

should think about what the proposition could mean for them.

“All Muslims need to go and send their voice to say no or yes to that

bill,” he says.

It’s a remarkably political message for what is basically an afternoon

prayer meeting. But for the last month, Islamic community leaders -- here

in Newport-Mesa and throughout the country -- have been making an effort

to make sure their people know the importance of participating in the

political process.

Maki Al-Nooh, a congregation member who is helping to coordinate the

education center’s voter drive, said this year’s registration effort is a

more organized affair than what’s been done in the past.

The center, which has been in its current location for about three

years, has started to generate a large and consistent following of

between 500 and 600 families, Al-Nooh said. Now is the time for that

constituency to become more engaged in the political process.

The Muslim population hasn’t always been as well represented as it

could be, Al-Nooh said, because some segments of the population are

recent immigrants or are here only to attend school. But for those who

are here to stay, becoming registered is, in his opinion, an important

part of becoming a responsible member of society.

“In order to invoke change,” he said. “We have to follow the process.”

The emphasis for Islamic leaders is not on advocating specific votes

or endorsing particular candidates, but simply on highlighting the

importance of weighing in on issues that are likely to concern Muslims.

Ahmad Haidary, an Irvine resident who picked up a voter registration

form after Taqii spoke, said the question of school choice was very

significant to him.

“That’s the main issue, actually,” he said.

Haidary, an advocate of Prop. 38, said many Muslims he knows have

similar political views.

“Most of us, we vote for Republicans,” he said.