This year I didn’t attend ISNA physically but I did spend part of my labor day weekend attending it virtually.
Before the convention I made some observations about their social media failures and youth disconnect before the convention.
I was curious to see whether those observations would hold true during the convention. based on what I saw, here are my takeaways:
Dismal Social Media
ISNA indeed has dismal social media, they had major media social media pros there and yet didn’t get much traction. the biggest posts were actually by ex Muslims trying to protest the convention.
Low Attendance
The convention appeared to be significantly under-attended with several of the rooms not filled in a sprawling convention center, this was an underwhelming show of force by ISNA.
Muslim joy with Native Deen. ❤️Nothing warms my heart more than to see young people happy and proud. #ISNA55 pic.twitter.com/oBeAWiRE0L
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) September 3, 2018
Generational Disconnect
There’s a big disconnect with the younger generation which was not excited by ISNA on social media. the most popular event appears to have been the Native Deen concert where you had Hijabi girls shrieking like teeny boppers. (I wonder what Yasser Qadhi and his Salafi crew make of this non-Nasheed musical entertainment) The ISNA brand is filled with contradictions: the convention poster is filled with bearded Salafis but to keep the kids interested they have to give them a hiphop show.
ISNA Is A Fragile Coalition
The ISNA convention is a fragile coalition. It’s designed to create the perception of unity. In reality, it’s an odd, almost awkward, gathering of people who have little in common. Some are entrepreneurs there to sell trinkets (oilive oil, salam sisters, Halal mortgage!). others are Islamist celebrities trying to keep their brand relevant. Then, add in a bunch of naive non-Muslims eager to show that they’re tolerant without appearing to understand who they’re talking to.
Happening outside of #ISNA55 in Houston- about 20 gun carrying protestors shouting Islamophobic statements & holding “infidel” signs. Counter-protestors are double in number. Small overall but heavy police presence standing by. pic.twitter.com/qF7LfFPucc
— Rowaida Abdelaziz (@Rowaida_Abdel) September 1, 2018
ISNA’s Crowd Glued Together By Victimhood
The main glue that seems to hold the convention together isn’t islam, but victimhood. Judging by attendance, the Islamophobia panel was the best attended.
I’m skeptical because I don’t think victimhood is a long-term agenda to bring Muslim Americans together in a positive way. Indeed there was an anti-Islam protest outside the convention, so it’s not like anti-muslim bigotry doesn’t exist — it’s real. However, it doesn’t seem to me that the ISNA leadership is the right leadership to get our community where it needs to be, and to reduce Islamophobia. if anything they make the problem worse.
CAIR Is A Non-Factor
Nihad Awad of CAIR was a shadow on social media, so was CAIR’s social media machine — gee wasn’t he the head of the “most popular US Muslim civil rights group?” hardly anyone on social media seemed to notice his presence at #ISNA55
Finally, so to not forget the Salafi crowd, Yasser Qadhi is at it defending accused rapist Tariq Ramadan… Hello #MeToo
Wajahat Ali, Rabia Chaudhry, it’s for the best they didn’t let you in. They did you a favor by disinviting you 🙂 !!