Palin and Alaska's Muslim Population

Newsweek ^ | September 11, 2008 | Michael Isikoff

[forkinsocket]

Most Alaskans may seem excited about Gov. Sarah Palin’s selection as John McCain’s running mate. But there’s at least one group of her constituents that has had a more subdued reaction: the state’s Muslims. There are only about 2,000 to 3,000 Muslims in Alaska, and, while there are no mosques, Anchorage (which is home to most of the state's Muslims) does have an Islamic Community Center, located in a rented office in a strip mall, where members pray on Fridays. But Osama Obeida, the center’s vice president, said his group has never had any contacts at all with Alaska’s governor. No meetings, no invitations to state ceremonies, no pro forma letters commemorating the observance of Islamic holy days. “She has never taken the initiative,” Obeidi told NEWSWEEK.

Obeidi is a 49-year-old Palestinian American who runs an art gallery (featuring prints of bears and wolves) with his 82-year-old father Mousa Obeida, a refugee who left Ramallah in the 1950s and counts himself as Alaska’s first Muslim. Osama Obeidi acknowledged that the Anchorage Muslim community has never reached out to the governor either—nor did it have any dealings with previous Alaska governors. “We don’t like to get involved in politics,” he explains. Still, the lack of contact has left Alaskan Muslim leaders underwhelmed about Palin’s presence on the national ticket. “Maybe she doesn’t know we have a community of Muslims here,” said Lamin Jobarteh, a Wells Fargo banker (originally from Gambia) who is president of the Islamic center.

Its not as though Alaska’s Muslims don’t have issues they’re concerned about. Osama Obeidi said he and his father have been repeatedly hassled at Ted Stevens Airport when they fly to see their extended family in the Palestinian West Bank.

[montag813]

2,500 Muslims and NO mosques in Alaska and that is what "investigative journalist" Michael Isakoff "exposes"?

Meanwhile Obama held his first fundraiser in Bill Ayers' home, bought his house in a shady deal from Tony Rezko, and God knows what other dirt is lurking in Chicago.

But no, we need to know about the handful of Muslims in Alaska.

How absolutely pathetic.

[aft_lizard]

Beat me to it, I read the same thing...

[TexasCajun]

Seems someone has already secured the muslim block of votes:

[B.O. Plenty]

......no meetings, no invitations to state ceremonies, no pro forma letters commemorating the observance of Islamic holy days.....

Why would Gov Palin try to suck up to people who hate her anyway?

They bring nothing to the table except misery and strife....they will never give her any respect and she knows it. So why bother trying to even acknowlege them...the muslims would whine and complain that she dissed them in some manner no matter what she did....

Right on Gov Palin...

[G.Mason]

"I wonder if any relatives Zer0bama are hanging out in da hood in Alaska...."

Not according to that Diddy rap genius.

According to him there ain't even any crack heads, or crime in Alaska.

[rlferny]

In my book it’s definitley helping her.

Finally a poitician with enough gonads to not suck up to the murdering swine

[Nathan Zachary]

"But Osama Obeida, the center’s vice president, said his group has never had any contacts at all with Alaska’s governor. No meetings, no invitations to state ceremonies, no pro forma letters commemorating the observance of Islamic holy days. “She has never taken the initiative,”"

Nor should she. Her job is to run the state, not promote Islam. There is separation of church and state in this country. Who is this Asama to think he deserves a special invitation to state ceremonies? He's not an elected official or anyone special.

[bonnieblue4me]

She never met with me, either! I don’t live in Alaska, but I would feel better if she met with me.

[Tax-chick]

Osama Obeidi said he and his father have been repeatedly hassled at Ted Stevens Airport when they fly to see their extended family in the Palestinian West Bank.

So blame Ted Stevens, guys. On another note, these people sure must be rich. I never fly anywhere, much less to the West Bank; what's a ticket from Anchorage to ... Tel Aviv, I assume ... cost, anyway?

[Question Liberal Authority]

By the way, these reporters aren’t going to stay in Alaska for two months, are they?

No. They'll be staying for 16 years. They'll be conducting "research" for the Impeach Sarah Palin movement.

[Nathan Zachary]

"So what’s the issue????"

I think the issue is "News weak" is trying to make one where none exists.

[Maverick68]

I really think this could be a winning strategy for the Obama camp. I believe they should run ads in every fly-over state in the country, lamenting the fact that Palin has a less than stellar relationship with the muslims in Alaska...yep...that oughtta do it....

[rrrod]

Im liking her more everyday!

[red meat conservative]

As a right wing jew, this is just more icing on the cake!

[Question Liberal Authority]

These are the same reporters who bellow endlessly about Wasilla being a small town, hanging out at a community center in a strip mall.

[Williams]

This article is preposterous. I suspect there are less than 2000 muslims in Alaska.

[mlocher]

So what’s the issue????

There is no issue. Just another attempt by the media to sell a non-story

[Question Liberal Authority]

Isikoff has so much respect for this guy, he spells his name differently nearly every time he writes it. You’d think a guy named Isikoff would be sensitive to misspelled surnames.

[HIDEK6]

" Osama Obeidi said he was even briefly arrested a few years ago when he landed in Germany after leaving Anchorage on his way to Jerusalem ..."

I think this is a very compelling reason for Germans to elect Obama.

[HIDEK6]

" Osama Obeidi said he was even briefly arrested a few years ago when he landed in Germany after leaving Anchorage on his way to Jerusalem ..."

I think this is a very compelling reason for Germans to elect Obama.