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What
is HAMSA?
HAMSA is an international civil rights initiative of
the American Islamic
Congress, a 501c3 non-profit organization. The American
Islamic Congress promotes interfaith tolerance and mobilizes American
Muslims - as well as all Americans of conscience - to stand for
individual rights across the Muslim world. HAMSA works to bridge
activist efforts in America and the Middle East, partnering with
indigenous civic groups. HAMSA is non-sectarian and
appeals to all people of conscience.
 What
does HAMSA mean?
HAMSA stands for the "Hands Across the
Mideast Support Alliance." The hamsa is one of the world's
oldest icons. A five-finger hand, the image draws its name from the
Arabic word for "five" and its symbolism pre-dates the rise of
monotheism. Powers of healing and protection are ascribed to this
traditional Middle Eastern amulet, which is placed on doors, walls, and
necklaces across the region. HAMSA aims to help Americans and Middle
Easterners join hands in the struggle for civil rights; to help heal
the pain of repression; and to help protect reformers who speak out at
great personal risk.
Why
was HAMSA started?
HAMSA was established to address two areas often
overlooked in the debate over reform in the Middle East. (1) We
focus on civil rights - not democracy. The challenge in the
Middle East is to ensure guaranteed individual rights for all people;
otherwise, elections can simply enshrine repressive regimes. (2) We
focus on grassroots reform efforts - not US government policy.
Americans as individuals have a key role to play in helping support
indigenous Middle Eastern reformers, and American civil society can
look beyond foreign policy debates to form effective partnerships with
civil rights workers in the Middle East.
 Why
focus on "civil rights" in the Middle East?
The concept that an individual has inherent
rights - regardless of gender, religion, race, etc. - must
take root in Middle Eastern societies if democracy and long-term
stability are to be achieved. Beyond the military and diplomatic
challenges of the Iraq War, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the struggle
to stop Islamist terrorists, the fact remains that hundreds of millions
of individuals in the Middle East lack guaranteed rights. Free speech
is censored, women endure legal discrimination, minorities face
restrictions, economic liberty is constrained by corrupt dictators,
etc. With citizens denied basic means of self-expression and essential
liberties, the region's development is stunted and radical Islamists
enjoy a ripe recruiting ground.
Is
there a connection to the American civil rights movement?
Americans should be inspired by our own civil rights
movement to support advocates struggling for individual rights today in
the Middle East. Not too long ago in a region not far away (i.e., the
American South), enormous obstacles stood before anyone seeking to
challenge the status quo repression of minority rights. Antagonism -
fueled by harsh legal restrictions, terrorist violence, and social
ostracism - was compounded by the apathy of free people who knew
something was wrong yet chose to abdicate. Still, small bands of
activists using non-violent methods began to confront injustice and
indifference. This movement relied on international attention and the
outside support - financial, moral, and strategic - mostly from young
people. Young people led, and political leaders followed, eventually
helping to break the back of institutionalized repression.
 How can
Americans of different backgrounds - who seem polarized on many Middle
East issues - come together to support civil rights?
The attacks of September 11, 2001, starkly
revealed that Americans can no longer ignore problems festering in the
Middle East. Americans have a vested interest in helping Middle
Easterners develop open societies, and not just in Iraq. People across
the political and religious spectrum can appreciate the fundamental
importance of civil rights, and can put aside policy disagreements to
provide non-violent support to those struggling for basic freedoms in
the Middle East. By focusing on common values and grassroots efforts by
individuals rather than governments, we may even be able to heal some
of the rifts exposed in recent years.
Are
there actually reformers on the ground in the Middle East?
Reporting from the Middle East regularly spotlights
long-ruling dictators and radical Islamists. Yet beneath the surface,
inspiring pockets of activism have recently emerged across the region.
Civil rights activists have helped organize sizeable grassroots
demonstrations in Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iran, and Egypt, among
others.
Reformers are establishing organizations, launching independent
newspapers and weblogs, and demanding respect for the basic rights of
all citizens. Specific examples of prominent reformers include members
of the judging panel from our "Dream Deferred Essay
Contest." Even more grassroots examples include the hundreds
of young people who entered the essay contest.
 How can
we make an impact?
HAMSA's strategic approach is to leverage
the freedom of Americans to improve conditions for indigenous Middle
Eastern reformers. Specifically, we educate the public about
civil rights repression in the Middle East, pressure dictators to
alleviate restrictions, and provide a platform for indigenous
reformers. The region's dictators depend on the
silence of the international community; shining a spotlight on their
denial of individual rights is a way to hold these unelected leaders
accountable. Activists who do speak out despite the risks need to be
celebrated as heroes and need to know that Americans will not remain
silent if they get arrested. We also provide incentive for young Middle
Easterners to express their ideas for addressing civil rights
violations - for example, through the "Dream Deferred Essay Contest."
If even one person living under repression no longer feels abandoned as
a result, then our work is a success.
Will
advocating for reformers in the Middle East cause them problems?
Dictators and other advocates of the
status quo often try to marginalize reformers by accusing them of being
the tools of outsiders. The same argument was used during the American
civil rights movement to try to discredit activists. It didn't stop
outsiders from providing vital assistance in the 1960s, and it
shouldn't stop us today. At the same time, we primarily collaborate
with reformers who want assistance and are eager for partnerships. In
addition, HAMSA does not accept funding from the US government, and
thus speaks only in the name of American citizens who want to help, not
a particular administration's foreign policy. Ultimately, we believe
the consequences of inaction are too high and so we refuse to abdicate.
 How can
I get involved?
This is the most important question you can ask. Living
as a free person in a democratic society, you should see yourself as
someone with enormous power. Here are some simple ways you can help:
(1) Educate yourself and your friends about individual rights in the
Middle East. (2) Send a message of solidarity to regional reformers,
who need your moral support. (3) Send a message to dictators that you
oppose their civil rights restrictions. (4) Provide financial support.
(5) Develop your own local campaign - for inspiration read the ideas proposed by young people who entered our essay contest.
Why
hasn't this kind of support movement happened already?
It's not entirely clear why our parents' generation
failed to address civil rights repression in the Middle East. But we
should take note of their failure, and we should in turn stay focused
on the goal of promoting individual rights for all Middle Easterners.
Remember that for years the American public knew segregation in the
South was wrong, but only a few people actually mobilized to counter
it. The few courageous activists were idealistic young Americans just
like you. Today, as in the past, most people will be content to watch
from the sidelines. Some will write off the future of the Middle East
and criticize civil rights efforts as naïve. Others will
obsess over America's imperfections or get distracted by US foreign
policy debates. In the end, few will have the courage to step up. But
we hope you are inspired to be on the side of the activists driving
forward the 21st century movement for civil rights in the Middle East.
There is much work to be done.
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