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Salaam!

We can’t believe we are a couple of weeks away from the new year. As we wrap up towards the end of the year, here are our updates from December and November.
Thanks for reading our monthly newsletter,

Poligon Team

ADVOCACY EFFORTS

Anniversary of the Combating International Islamophobia Act (S.3384)

December 14th marked the one year anniversary of the passage of the Combating International Islamophobia Act (H.R.5665) in the House. This act would create a special envoy in the U.S. Department of State to monitor and combat international Islamophobia, and require the department to annually report on Islamophobia. We are working closely with our partners to reintroduce and pass the bill in the new Congress.  

You can join our effort by calling your Senators and Representatives in Congress at (202) 224-3121, and urge them to support the Combating International Islamophobia Act (H.R. 5665 / S. 3384)  and a switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request. You can also tweet or amplify our advocacy work with our #IslamophobiaEnvoy social media toolkit here.

STAFF UPDATES

Meet Hazem Bata, our Inaugural Executive Director!

Hazem Bata brings to the organization almost 20 years of legal, nonprofit, advocacy and entrepreneurial experience. Hazem is an attorney who practiced in real estate and banking. Hazem is the former Secretary General and CEO of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and the former Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Orlando). He sat on the Boards of several mosques and participated in interfaith dialogue. Hazem has also testified at the state level on voter rights, police training and oversight, bullying, and more. He co-launched an Indiana nonprofit which aims to bring liberals and conservatives together. Hazem received a B.S. in mechanical engineering and a J.D. from West Virginia University. He also received an LL.M. in intellectual property from Washington University in St. Louis.
“Poligon has made its mark on American politics on issues important to Muslims and other minorities,” Bata said. “What’s more impressive is that it was managed almost entirely by volunteers. As Poligon’s first full time Executive Director, I hope to amplify our impact even further.”
Hazem lives in Arlington, Virginia with his wife, Rayhana, and is still getting used to having his two adorable sons, Imran and Ibrahim, away at college.

Meet Anthony Nguyen, our Development Consultant!

In addition to serving as Poligon’s new Development Consultant, Anthony Tan Nguyen is the Alliance Coordinator for Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine, the research arm of Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego. Prior to this role, he was the District Director for U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) and has worked in both his district and capitol hill offices handling issues on health care, seniors, housing, labor, human trafficking, national security, and Asia-Pacific affairs. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from San Diego State University, and Master of Arts in International Relations and a Master of Health Administration from. Anthony previously worked for the U.S. Social Security Administration and started his public service career interning for the U.S. Department of State – Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. He is a Political Partner of the Truman National Security Project – San Diego Chapter and Board Treasurer for the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC). Anthony is a proud 1.5 generation Vietnamese American, born in Taiwan, and fluent in Vietnamese. 

COMMUNITY/NETWORKING EVENTS

On December 15th, Thursday, our Executive Director, Hazem Bata, joined Muslim leaders from the Muslim Americans in Public Service (MAPS), El-Hibri Foundation, Muslim Public Affairs Council, Islamic Scholarship Fund, Asian American Federal Employees for Nondiscrimination, Women of Color Advacing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation, and others for a “Winter DC Networking Event”.This was an exciting opportunity to connect with valued community members, leaders, and esteemed partners across all levels and branches of government.

LETTERS TO CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION

Urge the Admin to provide relief to those harmed by the Muslim and African Ban
Poligon signed on as a partner on this joint petition, urging President Biden to provide relief to all who have been impacted by Trump’s Muslim and African Bans. The harms done to families impacted by Trump’s racist immigration policies won’t be so easily repaired.

Without further action to provide relief beyond rescinding the bans, our communities continue to remain impacted. We have waited twenty months for the Biden administration to take the appropriate steps to redress the harms, and now the administration has been directed as a result of a recent court case that ruled in favor of impacted families, to create and implement a fair and effective visa reconsideration process for the 41,000 denied entry because of the Muslim and African Bans. You can also help us by signing the petition here.

Support FISA protections for sensitive targets (Leahy-Lee amendment)
Poligon joined coalition partners to urge Congress to include the Leahy-Lee Amendment - the FISA Amici Curiae Reform Act of 2022 - in any final spending bills of this Congress. In May 2020 this measure received 77 votes on the Senate floor when offered as an amendment to the USA Freedom Reauthorization Act. This overwhelming, bipartisan support reflects the common-sense recognition of the need for the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) to have access to independent advice on civil liberties when the government seeks to spy on domestic media, religious, political, and other particularly sensitive groups. Leahy-Lee would strengthen and expand the role of the independent amici who appear before the secret FISA Court in these sensitive cases. It would safeguard Americans’ First Amendment rights by empowering the Court with the advice of amici when the government seeks to use FISA surveillance in such sensitive investigative matters. 

Urge the Admin to the Payment Pause and Cancel Student Debt
Poligon joined the Student Borrower Protection Center and other organizations to request Biden’s Administration to extend a critical protection for millions of borrowers experiencing ongoing economic challenges since the pandemic. This was a response to the 8th Court Circuit’s decision to issue an emergency injunction pending the appeal, blocking President Biden’s debt relief program. After hearing from students and hundreds of organizations, the Biden Administration extended its Payment Pause Program.
Poligon Education Fund is a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization dedicated to amplifying Muslim American voices in Congress. Donations are tax deductible and zakat eligible.
Copyright © 2018 Poligon, All rights reserved.

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