(Washington, DC – January 29, 2010) The Supreme Court decided, on January 21, 2010, favorably for the corporations and unions as regards to their spending in elections. In Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission, the Court gave unlimited power to corporations and unions to spend freely on political advertisement leading up to the elections.

This ruling means that a part of the 2002 McCain –Feingold Campaign – finance reform law that sought to limit corpoprate influence is no longer valid. The court based its decision on constitutional ground saying that the 2002 campaign-finance reform law violates the free-speech right of corporations to engage in public debate of political issues.

The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), along with major religious organizations across the country, is greatly concerned about this decision as it opens the gate for a flood of corporate spending in future elections. We urge members of the Muslim community and fellow Americans to engage with their representatives in the Congress to support the Fair Elections Now Act (S. 752 and H.R. 1826).

This measure would empower average people to participate in politics with small donations, and would return the gaze of our elected officials solely to the needs of their districts and the nation as a whole, rather than the interests of those with significant financial resources for campaigns.  ISNA is committed to work with other religious communities to encourage support for the Fair Elections Now Act which aimed to bring about reform.

To read the summary of the Fair Elections Now Act click here

To read the talking points prepared by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism pertaining to the Citizen United decision, click here

Action Requested

• ISNA encourages Muslim communities across the country to take this opportunity to educate their members on the Supreme Court ruling and the importance of positive political involvement for protection of religious freedom, and the values of justice and equality of citizens.
• Muslim communities should engage with their representatives in the United States Congress in a dialogue about this decision.  Click here to view a sample letter to send to your representative.
• Community leaders and imams should use this opportunity to talk about the importance of fair elections without the undue influence of special interest lobbyists. Communities should also discuss the moral implications of campaign finance and the moral duties of citizens to participate in public debate and the political process on all levels to maintain fairness and equity in the political system and process.

For more information on this issue, please contact ISNA office in Washington DC at 202-544-5656.

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