Canadian Muslims are becoming politically active and are showing that they can wield a good deal of influence in elections, reports the website IslamOnline (July 5).
The high turnout of Muslims in Canada’s general elections in early July had a part in the victory of the Liberal party. More than 80 percent of eligible Muslims cast their vote in the elections, with 71 percent supporting the Liberals, according to an exit poll conducted by the Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC). CIC played a leading role in involving Muslims in the elections (the first held since 9/11 and the war in Iraq), helping to organize candidate meetings and debates in major Muslim centers.
This was also the first election in which the leadership of the Muslim community actively promoted participation in the political process. A number of Muslim candidates ran for political office, including Wajid Khan, a businessman who won a seat for Liberals in suburban Toronto.