Should Muslim Americans attend The White House Ramadan Iftar?

Should Muslim Americans attend The White House Ramadan Iftar?

Ramadan 2006 is almost here. Time to prepare for prayer. The holy month is a time for reflection, fasting and outreach to our neighbors. And outreach begins early.

I have just returned from the New York Police Department’s annual pre-Ramadan breakfast for our community—strangely, in some ways the best-attended Muslim event in New York, with leaders from a wide variety of our communities. Some Muslims are a little naïve in their happiness to be included in the court of the Sultan of Security. But everything is nice, everyone is nice, and we have to do it, for good relations, and we all sign the book as we go in. The NYPD has the best database thanks to us!

But speaking of data bases, should Muslim Leaders attend an iftar in the Bush White House? Mr. Bush has little respect for International Laws such as the Geneva conventions or the US constitution and ancient rights of Habeus Corpus. Almost five years after arrest, countless innocent Muslim men remain incarcerated along with the guilty in the indefinite detention of Guantanamo. In addition, overseas detention centers are holding 14,000 detainees beyond the reach of established law. How can our leaders meet with Mr. Bush, with all the lies that he has told, and continues to tell, about the War in Iraq and the so-called War on Terror?

Tariq Ramadan has written to Mr. Bush (in al Ahram 2005): “You presented yourself to the American people as the solution but you are in fact the problem. You have not ceased to deepen the gap between the United States and the rest of the world - not only the Muslim world but also Europe… Your administration preferred to exclude me, like so many other Muslim intellectuals, in order to protect itself from debate and dialogue. I finally decided not to try settling in your country anymore… I do not know what could persuade you to use less lies and more truths.”

Last year during Ramadan, Imam Naji Ali, of Project Islamic HOPE in Chicago, was quoted in the media saying that Muslim organizations, imams and activists were fed up with this administration. He urged Muslim leadership not to be politically naïve, adding; “Let President Bush eat by himself at his Ramadan dinner."

Even so, last year many Muslim organizations, together with the diplomats of the Organization of Islamic Countries, flocked to the White House to hear the President say how peaceful Islam is as religion. Will these noble and pre-eminent insiders be returning in 2006 for a second throwing of crumbs and scraps?

Perhaps they will have second thoughts. For example: Imam Talal Eid is an al Azhar graduate, distinguished founder and religious Director of the Islamic Institute of Boston, and also affiliated with the Muslim World League based in Saudi Arabia (see www.imamtalaleid.com). Imam Talal has been Muslim chaplain at several hospitals and has won recognition for his service as a leader. Last year he led prayers at the White House to mark the holy month of Ramadan. His picture is still on the White House website.

Imam Talal is also from Lebanon, and we must be sympathetic to his stress and strain arising from the recent Israeli aggression. But let us ask: did an appearance at the White House help ensure that the Bush Administration would urge a speedy ceasefire? No!

Instead, this administration hurried up its shipments of cluster bombs to Israel. It is not the imam’s fault. And yes, elected officials can sometimes help with one’s nearest and dearest caught in the crossfire. But face the facts: the White House Ramadan benefits George Bush more than it does the Muslim Community.

Both CAIR and MPAC have significant presence in Washington DC; and now ISNA has an office there as well. Will they be schmoozing with George this Ramadan? These organizations do much good. But how do they justify such a disgusting activity?

On October 12, 2005 the Yahoo! News reported CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad, who spoke at The White House Iftar the day before: 'This annual tradition is designed to foster greater understanding of Islam and the Muslim community on Capitol Hill… It is also intended to show appreciation for congressional staffers who have been working closely with American Muslims.'"


And on October 27, 2005 the Muslim Public Affairs Council reported, "MPAC leadership attended iftars hosted by the Department of Treasury, the State Department, the White House, the US Agency for International Development, and the European Union. At each event, they raised pressing concerns from the community… MPAC is encouraged by the past year and continues to urge President Bush to lead his cabinet and their respective departments on a road that is inclusive of Muslims at the policy-making level."

Well, I am not encouraged at all. Are you? While leaders like Maher Hanout are being demonized by the far right friends of the Bush administration, MPAC may be tempted to attend this year’s event to show they are still in the game. No doubt that reasoning is familiar to CAIR.

O Muslims! Don’t let our Muslim leaders speak in your name without your agreement. O leaders! Don’t let George Bush define the rules of the game. We all must develop coordinated, local relationships with elected officials; not only for our own identity politics and issues, though there are plenty, but consistent with our deen for basic rights and social justice for all. Insha’Allah, may your Ramadan outreach be self-respecting; like a strong and purposeful handshake and not a weak, smiling, wishful-thinking wave of an empty hand.