My Conversation with President Obama

On Friday evening, August 13th, I had the honor and privilege of breaking Ramadan fast with President Barack Obama. The annual White House iftar included a select group of members of Congress, diplomats, and a diverse array of American Muslims. I was thrilled to be a part of this historic event and moved to hear the President affirm the rights of Muslims as equal to those of their fellow Americans.

...[A]s a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country... This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are.

I personally thanked President Obama for another commitment he made a year ago to protect religious freedom by easing hurdles to zakat, or charitable giving. I told him about the letter sent to his attention just days earlier by Muslim Advocates and 43 Muslim, Arab and South Asian groups, providing 10 thoughtful and constructive policy proposals to address the challenges faced by donors and Muslim charities.

I told President Obama that, in the wake of the greatest natural disaster in recent memory - the flooding in Pakistan - the very Americans best situated to help - American Muslims - feel paralyzed, afraid their donations will not get through.

He listened intently and replied, "We need to work on that," and then turned to his staff, repeating those instructions.

The President's response reminded me of one of the reasons we founded Muslim Advocates: to be a strong voice for American Muslims in Washington. These are challenging times for American Muslims, for affirming our identity and exercising our fundamental rights as Americans. The right to give charity is one of those rights, and Muslim Advocates is at the forefront of defending it. Our progress protecting charity has a multiplier effect: as we educate government officials, it benefits not just one organization but all charities trying to do good.

As you consider worthy causes for your zakat this Ramadan, please support Muslim Advocates and the important work we are doing to protect the rights and freedoms of all Americans, regardless of faith.

Wishing you and your family a blessed Ramadan,

Naheed Qureshi
Deputy Director
Muslim Advocates