By Guest Author, Anila Ali
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As a devout South Asian Muslim and a patriot, I yearn to express my political beliefs without fear of condemnation or marginalization. Many of my friends, like me, are finding themselves estranged from the Democratic party, a place where we once considered home.
My father Qutubuddin Aziz, a founding father of Pakistan, toldme when he first came to see me as a new immigrant in America in 1997, “Traditionally, the Republicans have supported Pakistan. They helped us from the beginning of our inception and until now.” My father had been assigned by Pakistan’sgovernment to help bring Henry Kissinger and China together.
The majority of Muslims, especially South Asian Muslims and the doctors, engineers and small business owners within their ranks, were fiscally conservative and Republican. It seems the majority of Muslims are now returning home.
American Muslims have grown weary of wars abroad, and of the growth of the so-called inclusive movement in the Democratic Party.
Let me count our grievances with the Democrats!
We are weary of identity politics and the pervasive influence of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. As Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals, we firmly reject affirmative action. We believe in the principles of hard work and meritocracy—all foundational pillars that are integral to our community’s ethos. What is presented as inclusivity feels like marginalization of our own contributions and struggles.
Our religious beliefs compel us to fight crime and illegal immigration. The call to defund the police is a fraud that we reject. The moral compass of the current Democratic leadership seems increasingly hostile to our values as law-abiding Muslims. And while the intentions behind inclusivity for undocumented migrants may be noble, they undermine core values we hold dear as Americans.
As a former public school teacher in a low-income district, I believe in parental responsibility and the true essence of education. Despite billions poured into the education system, achievement rates are at unprecedented lows. Merely throwing money at systemic problems is not an effective solution. Lowering academic standards to accommodate underperforming groups only perpetuates mediocrity. My school district mandated that we give out passing grades indiscriminately, even forbidding disciplinary action against certain students. The result? Entire classrooms rendered ineffective as educators struggled to regain control over unruly students. Threats of professional repercussions overshadowed our responsibilities as educators.
As if this isn’t disheartening enough, I was informed by my principal that we had no time for a Holocaust survivor assembly, yet we have ample provisions for LGBTQ clubs and events. The values I once cherished as an educator are compromised, and as I result I have made the heartbreaking choice to leave the profession I once loved.
The recent electoral trends among Muslim youth in America, particularly those of South Asian descent, reveal a drift away from the Democratic Party. The American Muslim and Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) conducted a focus group after the 2024 election. It revealed that many young Muslims, especially those with children, support President Donald Trump predominantly on economic concerns. Surprisingly, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly following Hamas’ attack on the Jewish State on October 7, 2023 ranked low on their list of voting motivations, even as some did favor third-party candidates like Jill Stein due to their pro-Palestine views.
Many South Asian Muslims did not immigrate solely for economic prosperity, but sought refuge from societies offering limited freedoms. Unfortunately, our voices have been drowned out by radicalization efforts led by a select minority within our community, often finding sanctuary in Muslim Student Associations and Islamist organizations. The infiltration of these radical views into the American political sphere, particularly within the Democratic Party, raises troubling concerns. Inclusion should not come at the expense of national security or the tenets of the country we hold dear. The Democratic Party’s embrace of radical perspectives threatens to overshadow Muslims who advocate moderate views and who question prevailing narratives.
Our ancestors did not wallow in victimhood. Rather, they engaged with history honestly, seeking not to rewrite the past but to learn from it. Many of us question where our voices fit within the broader Democratic narrative. Meanwhile, the extremism of the Democratic leadership impedes our ability to fight extremism in our own communities. We desperately need a new Democratic Party that reflects the rich diversity and nuanced perspectives of all its constituents.
Anila Ali is an author, a faith leader, and a retired California public school teacher.
Agree 100% with this excellent article. The extreme positions of the Democratic Party are evidence that they no longer value the American dream nor choose merit and accountability.