Influential Muslim figure and former Democratic candidate kicked out of Harris event
At an event in Royal Oak (a city in the US state of Michigan), hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris, Dr. Ahmed Ghanim, former Democratic congressional candidate and influential Muslim figure in the Detroit community , was expelled without a clear explanation. Ahmed Ghanim reported that Harris campaign staffers asked him to follow them before Secret Service agents and Royal Oak police escorted him out of the building. Asked the reason for the expulsion, Ghanim replied that it certainly had a link to his religion.
The incident comes at a critical time for Kamala Harris’ campaign, as Democrats try to regain the support of Arab-American voters, particularly in Michigan, a key state in the national elections. These voters, considered an influential electoral bloc, could play a determining role in the November electoral results, hence the importance of maintaining positive relations with this community.
The reaction was not long in coming. Representatives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and other Muslim figures denounced the incident, organizing a press conference to demand an explanation and apology. Basim Elkarra, one of the representatives of CAIR, called for an investigation to clarify the reasons for this eviction. He also stressed the need to restore trust between the Muslim community and the Democratic Party.
Other Muslim leaders, like Rex Nazarko of the American Muslim Engagement and Empowerment Network, expressed outrage, pointing to a recurring pattern of contempt toward Muslim and Arab Americans. They discussed, among other things, the lack of Muslim representation at Democratic conventions as well as criticism of American military support for Israel, particularly with regard to the financing of operations in Gaza.
Harris’ entourage attempted to mitigate the controversy by issuing a statement in which Naomi Savin, deputy director of communications for Team Harris in Michigan, apologized. She also invited Dr. Ghanim to attend future events, emphasizing the importance of relationships with the Muslim American community.
However, despite this invitation, Ghanim has not confirmed whether he will vote for Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. This vagueness casts doubt on the campaign’s ability to fully win back the support of Muslim and Arab-American voters, a crucial issue for Democrats in a state as contested as Michigan.
The incident highlights simmering tensions within the Democratic Party, which must balance the expectations of diverse communities while avoiding missteps that could jeopardize its chances in upcoming elections.
