THE UMMAH: GUARDIAN OF MUSLIMS IN AN AGE OF WEAKENED CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS

Abstract

As Islamophobia becomes entrenched as the global “new normal,” there is an increasing need for Muslim solidarity to protect the rights of Muslims. Not only are Muslim refugees fleeing from armed conflict or systemic human rights violations at risk, but also Muslim minority communities. Many of them are excluded from mainstream society despite having legal citizenship. This article argues for a new, reconceptualized ummah that will provide effective protection for the rights of Muslims globally. It puts forward two proposals to that aim, including an international structure for advocating for the rights of Muslims internationally, as well as a radical rethinking of how countries view citizenship and migration. Muslim unity may appear difficult in the modern international system of sovereign nation states, but the obstacles are not insurmountable.