Historic Iftar held at US Capitol

Washington: A historic iftar was held at the US Capitol, hosted by a number of Muslim members of Congress.

The event was attended by members of the House of Representatives as well as Congress staff. The iftar was organised by the Democratic members of Congress Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Andre Carson.

The event was co-hosted by the national civil rights organization Muslim Advocates.

In a speech before the iftar, Tlaib, a representative for Michigan, stressed the “historic importance” of the event.

“This event lifts an entire community that has felt unseen for far too long. We have been unjustly targeted to ignite fear and promote an agenda of hate. Tonight, we recommit to being rooted in justice, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging,” she said.

At the White House, an annual iftar dinner is traditionally hosted every Ramadan. The dinner is a bipartisan tradition formally began under President Bill Clinton. However, the recently organised iftar by Tlaib, her colleagues and Muslim Advocates was the first to be held at the US Congress.