Muslim organizations skip Biden’s iftar dinner to commemorate Islam’s holy month of Ramadan and plan counter-protests in response to Biden’s backing of Israel’s harsh war and siege of Gaza.
The president was invited to an iftar dinner at the White House to commemorate the holy month of Ramadan, but many declined due to dissatisfaction in the Muslim community about his stance on Israel’s deadly attack on Gaza.
The meeting between US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, representatives of Muslim governments, and leaders of national security was anticipated to include a number of Muslim leaders. They weren’t named by the White House. Some were not invited, including Dearborn, Michigan Mayor Abdullah Hammoud. Hammoud had attended events in the past.
The administration’s support of Israel and its military invasion of Gaza, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and a hunger crisis in the small coastal enclave of around 2.3 million people, has infuriated a large number of Muslims, Arabs, and anti-war activists.
One of the people summoned to the White House for a trimmed-down meeting was Thaer Ahmad.
“It was disappointing that I was the only Palestinian in attendance, and out of respect for my community who is mourning and suffering,” Ahmad stated to HuffPost. “I informed the president that I would be departing. He assured me that he could understand my urge to go.”
Before Biden said a single word during last year’s White House Ramadan party, someone yelled, “We love you.” To commemorate the conclusion of the holy month, which calls for fasting from sunrise to sunset, hundreds of Muslims gathered there.
Such happy moments did not occur this Ramadan. The White House decided to have a smaller iftar dinner on Tuesday night since many Muslim Americans were incensed by Biden’s backing of Israel’s siege of Gaza. The only individuals present were those employed by his administration.
The head of the Muslim advocacy group Emgage, Wa’el Alzayat, said, “We’re just in a different world.” It’s utterly bizarre. It’s depressing as well.”
Despite having attended the previous year’s ceremony, Alzayat turned down the invitation to break his fast with Biden this year, stating that it was improper to hold a celebration of this kind during the Gaza famine.
He claimed that the White House changed its plans on Monday and informed local leaders that it intended to hold a meeting with an administration policy focus, following denials from Alzayat and other parties. Alzayat continued to say no, thinking that a single day would not provide enough time to get ready for a chance to change Biden’s perspective on the matter.
Broken relationships and counter-iftar
The denial to share a room or even eat bread with the president serves as more proof of the shattered bond that exists between Biden and the Muslim community six months after Israel started its current war on Gaza.
Many Muslim leaders were eager to put Donald Trump’s racism behind him when the Democratic president took office three years ago, especially in light of his campaign promise to enact a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.”
However, Democrats are now concerned that Biden’s decline in Muslim popularity would make it easier for his Republican predecessor to win reelection to the presidency. The outcome of this year’s election is probably going to depend on a few battleground states, like Michigan because of its sizable Muslim population.
American Muslims for Palestine’s director of development, Mohamad Habehh, told Al Jazeera that Biden cannot call himself a friend of Muslim Americans “if he does not end his backing of Israel.”
“These photo ops and discussions they’re holding to demonstrate to the Muslim community that they still have their support are just pitiful attempts to make themselves look good at a time when their true colors have been exposed,” Habehh told Al Jazeera.
On Tuesday night in Lafayette Park, activists made their own iftar in front of the White House. Dates are a typical Ramadan meal that is supplied by organizers to allow people to break their fasts at dusk.
Even as Israel murders Palestinians and relief workers without distinction in the constrained Gaza region, the Biden administration has persisted in approving arms shipments to Israel.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations’ executive director, Nihad Awad, stated that he urged other Muslim leaders to turn down invitations to the White House if they were extended.
“Unless he calls for a ceasefire, there will be no meeting with him or his representatives,” he added, should be the message.
“I believe that the president is the only person in the world who can stop this,” Awad stated. “He can pick up the phone and literally tell Benjamin Netanyahu, no more weapons, just stop it, and Benjamin Netanyahu will have no choice but to do so.”
SOURCE: TRTWORLD
