Turks Organize 1st Ramadan Dinner at US Congress

The Rumi Forum, established by Turks living in Washington D.C. to enhance inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue organized a fast-breaking dinner at the U.S. Congress.

The event marked the first fast-breaking dinner program and semah performance in Congress organized by Turkish people in the history of the United States.

Twenty seven congressmen, including House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, supported the program.

Turkish-American Friendship Group Co-presidents U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-FL, and U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-KY, were on the host committee.

House of Representatives members, the Congress personnel, religious leaders, academics and other prominent guests had the fast-breaking dinner following Georgetown University chaplain Imam Yahya Hendi's prayer.

After the dinner, Professor Seyyid Hossein Nasr, a prominent Muslim scholar, delivered a speech on the significance of Mawlana Jalaladdin Rumi's message to the modern world.

The members of Congress who attended the dinner told Zaman daily of their gratitude with the organization.

U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, D-NJ, stressed the importance of enhancing inter-religious dialogue and added it was misunderstanding that estranged believers. He said he was pleased to be part of the organization and appreciated Rumi Forum's objectives and especially liked the dinner program.

Holt said Muslims had greatly contributed to American society and that they outnumbered many traditional religious minorities. He said the point should be seen and Muslims should stop being seen as of an alien religion. He said Islam was an American religion, and there were millions of Americans who fasted during Ramadan and practiced Islam in their lives, of which most Americans are unaware.

U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski,D-PA, praised the Rumi Forum, the organizer of the fast-breaking dinner, and recalled if any organization wished to become known by Congress it should be proactive, adding that the group had shown this proactivity. (By Ali H. Aslan, Washington)