Muslims for Democracy and Fairness (MDF) is a Muslim activist organization that advocates to increase Muslim political advocacy in Florida, with a focus on the greater Tampa area. MDF consists of three entities: a nonprofit organization, political action committee (PAC), and lobbying organization. ¹

MDF claims that Islamophobia has been established in the American political process and that the U.S. political system is “plagued” with anti-Muslim sentiment. ² The organization is a part of Blue Voter Guide, an organization that helps identify Democratic Party-affiliated candidates for whom undecided voters can vote. ³

History and Leadership

Muslims for Democracy and Fairness is a Muslim activist organization located near Tampa, Florida. MDF was founded in 2018 to increase the Muslim community’s political advocacy in Florida with a focus on the Tampa area. ⁴

Samer Tamami is the executive director of MDF. ^{5 6} Ahmed Eid is the development manager for Muslims for Democracy and Fairness. ⁷

Activities and Funding

Muslims for Democracy and Fairness (MDF) is a Muslim activist organization that advocates to increase political advocacy for the Muslim communities in the state of Florida. MDF is an umbrella organization consisting of three entities: a nonprofit organization, political action committee (PAC), and lobbying organization. ⁸

MDF claims that anti-Muslim sentiment and other bigotry has been established in American political processes. ⁹ It also says that the American political sphere is plagued with Islamophobia, policies of exclusion, and blatant disinformation about Muslims. The group seeks to counter these allegations and strengthen communities through political engagement. ¹⁰

MDF is a part of Blue Voter Guide, an organization that helps identify Democratic Party-affiliated candidates for whom undecided voters can vote. ¹¹ It has also endorsed several Democratic Party, Democratic Party-affiliated, and Republican candidates running for office in primary and general elections in Florida. ¹² In 2022, the organization’s PAC endorsed the U.S. Senate campaign of then-U.S. Representative Val Demings (D-FL). ¹³

Since it started engaging with political candidates in 2018, MDF has interviewed more than 150 political candidates on issues related to the Tampa, Florida, Muslim community. ¹⁴

Activism

Muslims for Democracy and Fairness’s activism includes interviewing political candidates, meeting local government officials in the Tampa community, co-hosting Florida Muslim Capital Day in Tallahassee, meeting with U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL) regarding the Israel-Hamas war, hosting candidate forums and town hall events, running voter registration drives, get-out-the-vote activities, and other activist activities. ¹⁵

In 2022, the organization co-signed a letter to Biden administration Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate allegations of anti-Muslim hate groups spying on the American Muslim community. ¹⁶

During the 2022 and 2023 election cycles, the MDF interviewed at least 40 candidates seeking local office to explain Islam, the local Muslim community, and Muslim issue sets. ¹⁷

MDF’s political activism includes engaging Muslim voters through candidate forums, voter registration activities, rides to the polls, and other educational programming. ¹⁸

Funding

Muslims for Democracy and Fairness receives funding from individual contributions and grants. ^{19 20}

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2. “About Us.” Muslims for Democracy and Fairness. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://mdf-action20.square.site/about.
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4. “Muslims for Democracy and Fairness – MDF.” Facebook. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/MDFtampa/.
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7. “Ahmed Eid. LLM.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmed-eid-llm-3278b236/.
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9. “Support MDF to engage Muslims in Tampa into the political process!” LaunchGood. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.launchgood.com/v4/campaign/support_mdf_to_engage_muslims_in_tampa_into_the_political_process_1.
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12. “Image.” Joarder for Congress Instagram. Posted July 26, 2024. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/C929d0KSMvj/.
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14. “Support MDF to engage Muslims in Tampa into the political process!” LaunchGood. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.launchgood.com/v4/campaign/support_mdf_to_engage_muslims_in_tampa_into_the_political_process_1.
15. “Support MDF to engage Muslims in Tampa into the political process!” LaunchGood. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.launchgood.com/v4/campaign/support_mdf_to_engage_muslims_in_tampa_into_the_political_process_1.
16. Letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Inspector General Michael Horowitz. Council on American Islamic Relations. January 31, 2022. Accessed September 6, 2024. https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Muslim-Community-Letter-to-DOJ-January-31-2022.pdf.
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