U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday marked the holy month of Ramadan by holding an Iftar (breaking-fast) party at the White House for designated members of the diplomatic corps, congressmen, cabinet members, and community members. The annual IFTAR party, traditionally held by U.S. presidents, serves as an opportunity for the president to honor the Muslim communities in the United States. The party was attended by Saudi Ambassador to the United States of America Adel Al-Jubeir. Obama made brief remarks to the gathering. Obama stressed the integral nature of Muslim communities in the United States, “Islam, as we know, is part of America,” he said. “The American Muslim community is one of extraordinary dynamism and diversity…Indeed, the contributions of Muslims to the United States are too long to catalog because Muslims are so interwoven into the fabric of our communities and our country. Presenting a message of unity, Obama spoke of the common “truths” held among the major world religions, saying “together, we have a responsibility to foster engagement grounded in mutual interest and mutual respect.”
