NY Election: Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz condemns disappearance of Muslim candidates in ballot box

Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz has condemned the disappearance of the names of Muslim candidates, who contested to represent 79th and 87th Assembly Districts in the New York Democratic primary elections.

It would be recalled that two immigrant Muslim candidates Ahmadou Diallo and Muhammed N. Mujumder, contested in the last primary election in the New York city.

They enjoyed the massive supports of people from the districts, who voted en mass for them. However, the names of these candidates later miraculously disappeared from the ballot box.

While condemning the electoral fraud in a statement, Rev. Diaz, a contestant for the Bronx's 15th Congressional District, stated that the people must respect the will of the Muslim Democratic candidates and let the votes for them count.

"You should know that on Tuesday’s Democratic Primary the names of Ahmadou Diallo and Mohammed N. Mujumder appeared on the ballot as the two male district leaders for the 79th and 87th Assembly Districts.

"The NYC Board of Elections printed their names on the ballot, and the people voted for them.

"This is the will of the people, and therefore those votes must be counted and treated as write-in candidates," he said.

He added that in such flagrant disenfranchisement contradicted the democratic principles of guiding New York city.

"A city that boasts about concern for immigrant representation, protection, tolerance, compassion and equal opportunities for all, why is it that these same attributes are not being applied to these two candidates?" he queried.

Rev Diaz asserted that it was a colossal electoral fraud that the two candidates, who are Muslim immigrants, were denied same consideration and opportunities granted to other New Yorkers.

He noted further that people rightfully exercised their duty and cast their votes for them to indicate who they want as their representatives.

He stated that it is condemnable that this ethno-religious racism was experienced at a critical period when NYC battles fierce demonstrations in solidarity with Black lives.

"We often heard the people chant these words —Black lives matter— in public.

"So, what happened to the will of the people when they chose these two Black Democratic Muslim Immigrants?

"Should every vote matter to them, and their community? Does the people’s will, and the people’s vote be valued less because these candidates’ names appeared on the ballots, due to Board of Election’s technicalities?" he stated.

According to Rev Diaz, the priority must always be the will of the people, their vote and who they select to represent them.

He stressed that these candidates' votes should be counted and considered as write-in candidates.

He continued that as a city, that brags about being a “Sanctuary City”; that protects and grants all immigrants the same benefits as others, the two immigrants are being denied the rightful rights to serve their community in a politically elected capacity.

"Where are the civil liberties and civil rights attorneys to help protect the will of the people, and the integrity of these elections? Where are they?" Rev Diaz asked.

"The people for Mr. Ahmaduo Diallo, and Mr. Mohammed N. Mujumder and I believed many voices, during this past Democratic primary held on Tuesday June 23, 2020, when they said 'Let every vote count! Let the will of the people stand!'," he concluded.