The President Hosts an Iftar Dinner

President Obama hosts an Iftar dinner at the White House in recognition of Ramadan. June 22, 2015.

President Obama Hosts an Iftar Dinner

President Obama hosts an Iftar dinner celebrating Ramadan in the State Dining Room. This is the fifth Iftar that President Obama has hosted, continuing the tradition of hosting Iftars that began annually under President Clinton and was continued by President George W. Bush. The invited guests include elected officials, religious and grassroots leaders in the Muslim American community, and leaders of diverse faiths and members of the diplomatic corps.

Obama Celebrates Ramadan, Honors Muslims
ON ISLAM: CAIRO – Hosting an iftar to mark the holy fasting month of Ramadan, US President Barack Obama has used the occasion to honor American Muslims and their contributions to their country.

“Like so many faiths, Islam has always been part of our American family, and Muslim Americans have long contributed to the strength and character of our country, in all walks of life,” Obama told members of the diplomatic corps and prominent Muslim figures at a Ramadan iftar the White House on Wednesday, August 10, The Time reported.

“This has been especially true over the past 10 years.”

Obama said many Muslims lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks by Al-Qaeda movement.
"They were taken from us much too soon,” Obama said.

“And today, they live on in the love of their families and a nation that will never forget.”
Obama said many Muslims raced to offer help to those injured in the attacks.

“Muslim Americans were first responders…the EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) who evacuated so many to safety; the nurse who tended to so many victims; the naval officer at the Pentagon who rushed into the flames and pulled the injured to safety.

“On this 10th anniversary, we honor these men and women for what they are — American heroes.”
Obama has hosted an Iftar each year since he assumed office in 2009. » | Thursday, August 11, 2011

Obama: "Islam ist Teil von Amerika"
Ja wirklich! Islam ist Teil von Amerika genau so sehr als Christentum Teil von Saudi Arabien ist!

Offensichtlich, versucht Barack Hussein Obama die Religion seines Vaters an die Amerikaner aufzudrängen.

So eine Art Politik zu treiben, so eine Verfälschung der Geschichte absichtlich zu schildern, so eine Lüge zu verbreiten!

Mit so einem Mann am Steuer des mächtigsten Landes der Welt kann man für die Zukünft nur schwarz sehen! Und zu sagen, daß der Islam bedeutet Gerechtigkeit und Fortschritt ist nichts Anders als lächerlich. – © Mark

DIE PRESSE: US-Präsident Obama würdigt bei einem Abendessen anlässlich des Fastenmonats Ramadan den Beitrag von Muslimen zur US-Gesellschaft. Der Islam stehe für Gerechtigkeit und Fortschritt. Er sei eine "große Religion".

US-Präsident Barack Obama hat den Beitrag von Muslimen zur amerikanischen Gesellschaft gewürdigt. Bei einem Abendessen am Dienstagabend anlässlich des muslimischen Fastenmonats Ramadan bezeichnete er den Islam als "große Religion" und sprach von dessen "Engagement für Gerechtigkeit und Fortschritt".

An dem Dinner nahmen neben Kabinetts- und Kongressmitgliedern auch mehrere Vertreter muslimischer Organisationen der USA teil. Obama sagte, der Islam sei ein "Teil von Amerika", schreibt die "Washington Post". Bereits Obamas Vorgänger George W. Bush hatte ein Iftar veranstaltet, ein Abendessen zum Fastenbrechen. >>> Ag./phu | Mittwoch, 02. September 2009

Obama Hosts Dinner for Islamic Holy Month
THE WASHINGTON POST: WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama has praised the contributions of American Muslims at a dinner to celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Obama joined Cabinet secretaries, ambassadors and members of Congress to pay tribute to what he called "a great religion and its commitment to justice and progress."

The president also welcomed American Muslim community leaders to the event in the State Dining Room.

Obama said Islam is "part of America." He said the American Muslim community is diverse, like the broader citizenry of the United States. >>> Ann Sanner, The Associated Press | Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Sarkozy se dit "d’accord" avec Obama sur la liberté du port du voile islamique
LE MONDE: “Je suis totalement d'accord avec le discours du président Obama, y compris sur la question du voile", a expliqué le président Sarkozy, samedi 6 juin à Caen. Dans un discours sur l'islam prononcé au Caire deux jours plus tôt, M. Obama avait dit qu' "il importe que les pays occidentaux évitent d'empêcher les musulmans de pratiquer leur religion comme ils le souhaitent, par exemple en dictant ce qu'une musulmane devrait porter". La déclaration avait été vue comme une attaque contre la législation de certains pays européens, notamment la loi française de 2004 qui a de facto mis fin au port du foulard dans les écoles publiques françaises.

"En France une jeune fille qui veut porter le voile peut le faire. C'est sa liberté", a assuré le président français, estimant que la France y mettait "deux limites, parce que nous sommes un Etat laïque". "La première, c'est qu'au guichet des administrations, les fonctionnaires ne doivent pas avoir de signe visible de leur appartenance religieuse", a poursuivi le président. La "deuxième réserve" vise à s'assurer que la décision de porter le voile émane du "libre choix" des jeunes filles musulmanes et ne soit pas imposé "par leur famille ou par leur entourage". Car la France est un pays "où l'on respecte la femme". M. Sarkozy a affirmé avoir beaucoup fait lorsqu'il était ministre de l'intérieur "pour que les musulmans puissent vivre leur foi comme n'importe quelle religion". Dans la soirée, l'entourage de Nicolas Sarkozy précise tout de même : "Il est bien évident que le président de la République n'est pas pour le port du voile à l'école. C'est ce qu'impose la loi."

M. Sarkozy a qualifié le discours du Caire de "remarquable". "Il y a bien longtemps que nous attendions que les Etats-Unis, première puissance du monde, prennent toutes leurs responsabilités pour éviter un choc des cultures entre l'Occident et l'Orient", a-t-il poursuivi.

Barack Obama a explicité ses intentions: "Ce que j'ai essayé de faire au Caire, c'est d'ouvrir une conversation dans les pays musulmans mais aussi dans les pays non musulmans… Nous ne devrions pas avoir deux normes sur la liberté d'expression religieuse, l'une pour les musulmans et l'autre pour les non musulmans". >>> Caen, Envoyé spécial du Monde | Samedi 06 Juin 2009

AL ARABIYA NEWS CHANNEL(العربية): "Islam Is Also France," Sarkozy Says at Iftar

French President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed to protect Muslims' rights as he joined the Iftar feast Monday at the Great Mosque in Paris, marking the breaking of the daily fast in the holy month of Ramadan.



In the first such gesture by a French president to the country's sizeable Muslim minority, Sarkozy met senior Muslim clerics and promised: "I will be at your side to defend your rights. I ask you to be at my side to carry out your duties."



"Even in the government, some are observing this fast (of Ramadan)…this shows that from the top to the bottom of our society Islam is an integral part of our country," Sarkozy told his hosts.

"Much as it might displease some of those I oppose, Islam is also France," he said.



But he also said France expected all its citizens to respect French core values such as the separation of Church and state, and he condemned extremists who were using Islam to spread hate.

"Those who want violence in the name of Islam, hatred for others in the name of Islam, have no business being on French soil," Sarkozy said.



"I haven't betrayed the commitment that I made to give all my backing to Islam in France, and to fight extremism with all my strength. The two things go together," he said.



"Certain extremists want to put an end to this peace which we have in our country. Those who kill in the name of Islam and want to push the world into a global religious war smear Islam by speaking its name," he said.



With about five million Muslims, France is home to Europe's biggest Islamic community.

Sarkozy has encouraged institutional dialogue between mainstream French Muslim clerics and the broader society, but his tough stance on immigration has made him unpopular among Muslims.



France is also one of the few countries to have passed legislation banning visible religious symbols in public schools, such as the Islamic headscarf.



The law sparked a wave of anger and incomprehension among Muslims worldwide, but in France the controversy that surrounded its adoption three years ago has all but died down. [Source: Al Arabiya News Channel] AFP | Tuesday, October 02, 2009

President Bush Attends Iftaar Dinner: State Dining Room
President Bush giving a speech at the Iftaar dinner in the state dining room of the White House, the annual dinner given at the White House to mark Ramadan festivities. A tradition started by President Bush as a thank you to Muslims for the 9/11 attacks!
THE WHITE HOUSE: THE PRESIDENT: Good evening, and welcome. Over the past eight years, we have made the Iftaar dinner an annual tradition here at the White House. And I'm really glad we did. At this year's gathering, we pay special tribute to the many contribution Muslim Americans have made to our nation. We join in wishing Muslims around the world, "Ramadan Mubarak."

Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. We're honored you're in our midst. Congressman Keith Ellison, Congressman André Carson are with us. Members of the administration here tonight; members of the diplomatic corps -- we are glad you're here; my fellow citizens. Major, I'm looking forward to the blessing. Thank you for being here with us today.

According to the teachings of Islam, Ramadan commemorates the revelation of God's word in the Holy Koran to the prophet Mohammad. The word has become the foundation for one of the world's great religions. Today more than a billion Muslims around the globe celebrate the month of Ramadan with daily fasting, heartfelt prayer, and acts of charity.

During Ramadan, we are reminded of Islam's long and distinguished history. Throughout the centuries, the Islamic world has been home to great centers of learning and culture. Muslim thinkers and scientists have advanced the frontiers of human knowledge. People of all faiths have benefited from the achievements of Muslims in fields from philosophy and poetry to mathematics and medicine. President Bush Attends Iftaar Dinner >>> | September 17, 2008

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