2006 Programs and Events
Burns and Hughes Co-host a Ramadan Iftaar
October 18, 2006
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns and Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes co-hosted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 the Annual State Department Iftaar at the U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. Prominent figures of American Muslim community leaders attended in addition to guests from abroad, many of them distinguished for their service of Islam. The Iftaar held on the holiest night of Ramadan, Laylat al Qadr, served as an opportunity to honor many women of great achievement in academia, government, faith-based institutions, the arts and civil society, both in the United States and abroad. Under Secretary Burns and Under Secretary Hughes addressed the Iftaar guests commemorating the achievemnets of Muslim women and thankin the American Muslims for their efforts in cultivating understanding, tolerance and respect among different communities.
Imam Mohamad Bashar Arafat, director of the Islamic Council in Maryland and an advisor to U.S. State Department, opened the remarks with beautiful moving words about the tolerance and compassion of Islam. Arafat is the founder and president of Civilizations Exchange and Cooperation Foundation (CECF), which is dedicated to bringing people together in an environment where dialog and exchange can effectively support the creation of a better world that encourages peace, love, and understanding.
The Muslim community in the United States represents 80 different countries and there are millions of Muslims in the U.S. worship at over 1,200 mosques.