Another first for the Obama administration when the White House sponsored a celebration of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. The celebration was suggested by the Rumi Forum which also supplied the food. Fethullah Gülen is an honorary chairman of the Rumi Forum which is an interfaith organization. This is an example of how Mr. Gülen is able to influence people at the very highest levels of power. President Erdogan of Turkey recently requested that President Obama extradite Mr. Gülen back to Turkey from the United States where he has lived since 1999. There is, as yet, no indication whether Obama intends to honor Erdogan's request.
White House hosts first-ever Eid al-Adha celebration
The White House hosted an event to
celebrate Eid al-Adha on Tuesday for the first time ever with the
sponsorship of the Rumi Forum, an international organization
established by Turks living in Washington, D.C., to foster
intercultural dialogue.
The White House traditionally hosts an
iftar (fast-breaking) dinner every year for representatives of Muslim
communities in the United States, but Tuesday's event was the first
time that they have hosted a celebratory event for Eid al-Adha, upon
the suggestion of Rumi Forum. The opening speech of the event was
made by White House Public Relations Office Deputy Director Ashley
Allison and Rumi Forum President Emre Çelik.
The forum, of which Islamic scholar
Fethullah Gülen is the honorary chairman, provided food for the
event.
Speaking to Today's Zaman, Çelik said
Rumi Forum came up with the idea to host a celebratory event for Eid
al-Adha with the attendance of representatives from different
religions. The event was attended by about 60 people from various
interfaith organizations in Washington, including representatives
from Christian and Jewish organizations in the US, as well as
Muslims.
At the event, different faith groups'
representatives delivered speeches emphasizing the importance of
interfaith dialogue. The evening ended with a closing speech by
Special Assistant to the US President and Executive Director of the
White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Melissa Roger.
According to its website, Rumi Forum
was founded in 1999 “with the mission to foster intercultural
dialogue, stimulate thinking and exchange of opinions on supporting
and fostering democracy and peace and to provide a common platform
for education and information exchange.”
The principal goal of the Rumi Forum is
explained on its website as promoting peace in the world and
contributing to the peaceful coexistence of adherents of different
faiths, cultures, ethnicities and races.
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