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Powell Hosts American Muslims at State Department Iftar Dinner
By Neveen A. Salem
WASHINGTON D.C., Dec 1 (IslamOnline) - Continuing a tradition started by the Clinton Administration, U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell hosted a Ramadan
iftar (breaking of the fast) dinner Friday evening at the U.S. Department of State.
Representatives of the American Muslim community, mostly from the Washington D.C.-based political action groups, attended the dinner.
Also attending the iftar were several Muslim fire department and police personnel who took part in the relief efforts following the recent terrorist attacks in Washington and New York.
The dinner at the State Department also included a congregational maghrib (sunset) prayer and a traditional breaking of the day's fast with dates.
Powell told the gathering that there still remains "much ignorance and confusion" about Islam. He encouraged American Muslims to reach out and educate others about their faith. Secretary Powell also noted that, as a member of a minority community, he had to deal with the same kind of profiling that many Muslims and Arab-Americans have experienced since September 11.
Mahdi Bray, national political advisor of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), who attended last week's State Department-sponsored session on the role of women in Afghanistan, sat at the table with Paula Dobriansky, U.S. Undersecretary for Global Affairs. The two discussed issues concerning women's rights humanitarian relief and refugees in Afghanistan as well as civil liberties in America.
"Secretary Powell is to be congratulated for his efforts to reach out to American Muslims. Muslims have unique perspectives on many important policy issues that need to be considered as the war on terrorism goes forward," said Ibrahim Hooper, communications director for the D.C.-based Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Hooper presented Powell with Ramadan greeting cards made by local Muslim students. The cards wished him a happy Ramadan and asked that America help feed the hungry in this country and in Afghanistan.
"American Muslims can play a valuable role in the fight against terror by serving as a bridge of understanding to the Islamic world. Events like these offer a good opportunity to let policy-makers get to know Muslim leaders on a personal level," said CAIR Board Chairman Omar Ahmad.
Under the Clinton Administration, American Muslims were also invited to an annual Eid
- the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan - dinner at the White House.
Last year, U.S. President George W. Bush initially sought to continue the tradition but cancelled it at the last minute. No formal explanation by the White House was provided at the time.
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