Ramadan: iftar meal with Obama

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama Tuesday eulogized Islam, which he presented as part of the United States, while receiving members of the Muslim community in the White House on the occasion of the “Iftar”, a meal breaking the fast of Ramadan.

•     "For more than a billion Muslims, Ramadan is a time of devotion and intense reflection," the president said in welcoming his guests in a banquet hall of the White House for the "Iftar" (fasting breaking meal).
  
      "The Iftar tonight is a ritual performed during this Ramadan in mosques and kitchens in 50 states," said the president.
  
      "Islam, as we know, is part of the United States. As the American people as a whole, the American Muslim community is very dynamic and very diverse," he said.
  
      "On this occasion, we celebrate the holy month of Ramadan and we also celebrate how Muslims have enriched the United States and their culture," said Obama.
  
  
      Among the guests greeted by Mr. Obama included a young student, Bilqis Abdul-Qa'qa, who was shown at school by her exceptional performance in basketball in Massachusetts (northeast).
  
      "She recently told a journalist: I'd like to be a source of inspiration for many young Muslim girls who wanted to play basketball. Anything is possible, they can also do it," said Obama, himself amateur of this sport.
  
      "Bilqis is an inspiration not only for Muslim girls, she is an inspiration to us all," he said.
  
      The president also had a word for the first two Muslim MPs of the Congress of the United States, Keith Ellison and Andre Carson.
  
      In a message to mark the start of Ramadan last week, Mr. Obama pledged to "take concrete steps" to renew ties with Islam.
  
      "I want to reiterate my commitment to ensure that relations between U.S. and Muslims around the world restart on new bases," said Obama, less than three months after his big speech for the Muslim world, delivered in Cairo.
  
      The holy month of Ramadan began in August in most Arab countries and Iran.
  
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.