Exclusive - Tillerson declines to host Ramadan event at State Department: sources

[rooster59]

Exclusive - Tillerson declines to host Ramadan event at State Department: sources

By Yeganeh Torbati

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson delivers remarks to the employees at the State Department in Washington, U.S., May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has declined a request to host an event to mark Islam's holy month of Ramadan, two U.S. officials said, apparently breaking with a bipartisan tradition in place with few exceptions for nearly 20 years.

 

Since 1999, Republican and Democratic secretaries of state have nearly always hosted either an iftar dinner to break the day's fast during Ramadan or a reception marking the Eid al-Fitr holiday at the end of the month, at the State Department.

 

Tillerson turned down a request from the State Department's Office of Religion and Global Affairs to host an Eid al-Fitr reception as part of Ramadan celebrations, said two U.S. officials who declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

 

According to an April 6 memo seen by Reuters, the office - which typically initiates such events - recommended that Tillerson hold an Eid al-Fitr reception.

 

His rejection of the request suggests there are no plans this year for any high-profile Ramadan function at the State Department. The month of fasting and prayer for Muslims gets under way in many countries on Saturday.

 

When asked by Reuters to comment on Tillerson declining a request to host an Eid al-Fitr event in July for Ramadan, a State Department spokesperson said:

"We are still exploring possible options for observance of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the month of Ramadan. U.S. ambassadors are encouraged to celebrate Ramadan through a variety of activities, which are held annually at missions around the world."

 

Muslim activists have accused President Donald Trump's administration of having an unfriendly attitude towards Islam, encapsulated by its attempts to ban citizens of several Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

 

The administration says that while it strongly opposes Islamist militants, it has no quarrel with Islam. Aides point to Trump's visit this month to Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam where he addressed the leaders of more than 50 Muslim countries, as evidence of that.

 

Members of Congress, Muslim civil society and community leaders, diplomats from Muslim countries and senior U.S. officials usually attend the State Department Ramadan event, a symbol of the U.S. government's diplomatic efforts with Muslim countries and people.

 

If Tillerson avoids hosting one this year, that could send a message "that it is not as important to this administration to engage with Muslims," said former U.S. diplomat Farah Pandith, who served in the Bush and Obama administrations and helped plan Ramadan events at the White House and State Department.

 

Tillerson issued a statement on Friday to mark the start of Ramadan, which he called "a month of reverence, generosity, and self-reflection."

"Most importantly, it is a cherished time for family and friends to gather and give charity to those who are less fortunate," he said.

 

PAST RAMADANS

 

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright started the tradition 18 years ago of America's top diplomat hosting a public event for Ramadan, a lunar month.

 

The secretary of state of the time usually gives remarks there on the meaning of Ramadan.

 

In April, the State Department's Office of Religion and Global Affairs made a request to Tillerson's office that he deliver remarks at an Eid al-Fitr reception this year, and suggested a two-week range of dates in July. The event would serve to "highlight State Department initiatives and the importance of Muslim engagement," the memo said.

 

It noted that by hosting a reception just after Ramadan, rather than an iftar - an often sumptuous dinner at sunset - a State Department event could be held any time of the day, thus preventing "a very late evening for the Secretary."

 

Several weeks later, that office and other offices at the State Department were alerted that Tillerson declined the request, the officials said.

 

Reuters was told of the request being declined but did not see Tillerson's reply. An official with the Office of Religion and Global Affairs did not respond to a request for comment.

 

Several prominent Muslim-American groups in the Washington area who are normally invited to the Ramadan event told Reuters this week that they had yet to receive an invitation from the State Department, which they said was unusual.

 

"If they're having one, we haven't been invited," said Rabiah Ahmed, spokeswoman for the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Washington. A representative for her group has been invited to the State Department event in the past, she said.

 

FRAUGHT RELATIONSHIP

 

Trump's administration has had a fraught relationship with Muslims. As a presidential candidate, the Republican urged a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States, called for more surveillance of mosques and warned that radical Muslims were "trying to take over our children."

 

Trump has since toned down his rhetoric and courts have halted his temporary travel ban on people from six mostly Muslim countries.

 

White House officials did not respond to a request for comment on whether they would continue the tradition this year of hosting a Ramadan-related event at the White House.

 

The State Department celebrates other religious traditions though some of those commemorations are not as well-established as the State Department's Ramadan event. In 2014, then-secretary of state John Kerry hosted the first ever celebration at the State Department marking Diwali, the Hindu festival.

 

The White House also traditionally hosts annual Christmas and Easter events as well as a Seder dinner to mark the Jewish Passover.

The top U.S. diplomat has personally hosted a Ramadan event every year since 1999, often in the State Department's grand Benjamin Franklin room, apart from three years.

 

In 2006 and 2015, deputies of the secretary of state at the time hosted either an iftar dinner or an Eid al-Fitr reception. In 2014, Kerry hosted a reception for Eid al-Adha, another important Muslim holiday.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-05-27

 

[darksidedog]

Further evidence that this administration is headed in completely the wrong direction and appears to be seriously and openly anti Muslim.

At a time when engaging with Muslims would be the smart move, instead they snub a tradition, that will only further anger and alienate them.

It wouldn't surprise me if this stupidity is Steve Bannons work.

Edited May 27, 2017 by darksidedog

[mtls2005]

Trump/WH statement on Ramadan mentions terrorism, a lot...

 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/05/26/statement-president-donald-j-trump-ramadan

 

https://www.salon.com/2017/05/26/donald-trumps-ramadan-statement-is-filled-with-references-to-terrorism/

[Orton Rd]

46 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Further evidence that this administration is headed in completely the wrong direction and appears to be seriously and openly anti Muslim.

At a time when engaging with Muslims would be the smart move, instead they snub a tradition, that will only further anger and alienate them.

It wouldn't surprise me if this stupidity is Steve Bannons work.

Anti Islam not anti Muslim at all, why should non Islamic states pander to religious faiths that want to do us harm us? Let them have their Ramadan, but leave us out of the nonsense.

[ZAKY]

Anti Islam not anti Muslim at all, why should non Islamic states pander to religious faiths that want to do us harm us? Let them have their Ramadan, but leave us out of the nonsense.

Well done!!! Why should we consider ourselves muslims when we are not? Are the muslims countries following our religious beleifs? NO!!! So what?


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[mtls2005]

7 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

Anti Islam not anti Muslim at all, why should non Islamic states pander to religious faiths that want to do us harm us? Let them have their Ramadan, but leave us out of the nonsense.

 

Recognizing something hardly constitutes "pandering".

 

Most reasonable societies/countries recognize freedom of religion via legal and constitutional means, including Thailand which has a sizable, peaceful Muslim population.

 

No one is expecting you to fast from dawn to dusk for 30 days.

[KarenBravo]

Bibles and crosses are not allowed in Saudi Arabia.

In the US you can't even say Merry Christmas anymore (considered non-PC).

I believe in reciprocation. People are holding the USA to insane levels of religious tolerance compared to most Muslim majority nations. Is that fair?

[vogie]

59 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Further evidence that this administration is headed in completely the wrong direction and appears to be seriously and openly anti Muslim.

At a time when engaging with Muslims would be the smart move, instead they snub a tradition, that will only further anger and alienate them.

It wouldn't surprise me if this stupidity is Steve Bannons work.

Appeasement is not always the answer, I can understand why people are a little peeved with Islam. 

 

An appeaser is someone that feeds the crocodile, and hoping it will eat him last. W Churchill.

[mtls2005]

In the US you can't even say Merry Christmas anymore (considered non-PC).

 

Silly Faux-news. I return to the U.S. often, including for two weeks every Christmas, and millions of people say "Merry Christmas". 

 

 

I believe in reciprocation. People are holding the USA to insane levels of religious tolerance compared to most Muslim majority nations. Is that fair?

 

It 's not about "fair", it's about right and wrong, respecting individuals and honoring the Constitution (including the First Amendment).

[ilostmypassword]

22 minutes ago, vogie said:

Appeasement is not always the answer, I can understand why people are a little peeved with Islam. 

 

An appeaser is someone that feeds the crocodile, and hoping it will eat him last. W Churchill.

So would an appeaser would would be someone who says something like this in Saudi Arabia?:  "This is not a battle between different faiths,” he [ Trump] said, as quoted in the advance version of the speech, “different sects, or different civilizations. This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it.”

https://www.vox.com/2017/5/21/15671592/trump-saudi-islam-speech-muslim-ban-inoffensive-good-versus-evil

[buick]

merry christmas is not used in the workplace or schools.  you must say or write 'happy holidays'.  that is a fact, not fake news.

[NanLaew]

1 hour ago, darksidedog said:

At a time when engaging with Muslims would be the smart move, instead they snub a tradition, that will only further anger and alienate them.

At a time when ISIL are exhorting their faithful to ramp up the murder of infidels, I think this is very apropos.

[ilostmypassword]

1 minute ago, buick said:

merry christmas is not used in the workplace or schools.  you must say or write 'happy holidays'.  that is a fact, not fake news.

No, it's fake news.

"Schools are forbidden from initiating or sponsoring religious activities, including prayer, but religious groups are permitted to meet on school grounds after school, and students can pray to whatever or whomever they want at any time of day, as long as they do it privately and don’t try to force others to do the same. Religion can (and should) be a class subject — but not proselytized — in public schools, sacred music can be played in schools under certain circumstances, and schools can’t bar teachers or students from saying “Merry Christmas” to each other."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/12/24/can-students-pray-in-public-schools-can-teachers-say-merry-christmas-whats-allowed-and-forbidden/?utm_term=.e0da0a61d10c

[darksidedog]

There seems to be a fair bit of anti Islam feeling about, which I do understand. I think what many are missing is how do you expect other people to mingle in with you and become part of society, when you exclude them? The Ramadan observance is a long held tradition, so stopping it now sends the wrong message. Failing to do it this year probably sent a few thousand more to the dark side. If you give off hate, you can sure as hell, expect it to come right back at you.

Even if you consider them to be your enemy, you should still be prepared to engage with them. Remember the old saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

[vogie]

2 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

No, it's fake news.

"Schools are forbidden from initiating or sponsoring religious activities, including prayer, but religious groups are permitted to meet on school grounds after school, and students can pray to whatever or whomever they want at any time of day, as long as they do it privately and don’t try to force others to do the same. Religion can (and should) be a class subject — but not proselytized — in public schools, sacred music can be played in schools under certain circumstances, and schools can’t bar teachers or students from saying “Merry Christmas” to each other."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/12/24/can-students-pray-in-public-schools-can-teachers-say-merry-christmas-whats-allowed-and-forbidden/?utm_term=.e0da0a61d10c

Don't you think it's a bit sad when we are having a discussion on where and when we can say "merry christmas?" 

[ilostmypassword]

10 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

At a time when ISIL are exhorting their faithful to ramp up the murder of infidels, I think this is very apropos.

Yes, those evil American muslims are clearly responsible for the acts of Isil. They are just so bigoted. In 2014 only 42 percent of American Muslims approved of gay marriage. That was a mere 14 points higher than the score of evangelical Christians. And 2 points higher than Black Protestants.

http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/views-about-same-sex-marriage/

[buick]

4 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

No, it's fake news.

"Schools are forbidden from initiating or sponsoring religious activities, including prayer, but religious groups are permitted to meet on school grounds after school, and students can pray to whatever or whomever they want at any time of day, as long as they do it privately and don’t try to force others to do the same. Religion can (and should) be a class subject — but not proselytized — in public schools, sacred music can be played in schools under certain circumstances, and schools can’t bar teachers or students from saying “Merry Christmas” to each other."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/12/24/can-students-pray-in-public-schools-can-teachers-say-merry-christmas-whats-allowed-and-forbidden/?utm_term=.e0da0a61d10c

 

it might be allowed but it is not done.  you dont see merry christmas signs in the classroom.  only happy holidays.

 

i have no religion and am fine with how it is done.

[ilostmypassword]

1 minute ago, vogie said:

Don't you think it's a bit sad when we are having a discussion on where and when we can say "merry christmas?" 

I was correcting a falsehood. As for "we", I guess its sadness depends on who you are referring to in that pronoun.

[RuamRudy]

50 minutes ago, KarenBravo said:

Bibles and crosses are not allowed in Saudi Arabia.

In the US you can't even say Merry Christmas anymore (considered non-PC).

I believe in reciprocation. People are holding the USA to insane levels of religious tolerance compared to most Muslim majority nations. Is that fair?

Saudi Arabia is not Islam. One of my team took time off last week to attend the confirmation of his daughter in a catholic church in Muscat, presided over by an Indian priest in one of six churches in the city that were built by Sultan Qaboos. Sorry if that doesn't back up your narrative that most Muslim majority countries are intollerant of other cultures, but would you not prefer to rely upon fact to make your point?

[Scott]

I think we can drop the nonsense about "Merry Christmas".   Last Christmas, I wished a Merry Christmas in a lot of places, including in a government office and by clerks with major retailers.  

[ilostmypassword]

1 minute ago, buick said:

 

it might be allowed but it is not done.  you dont see merry christmas signs in the classroom.  only happy holidays.

 

i have no religion and am fine with how it is done.

You mean students and teachers don't say "merry christmas" or "happy Hanukkah" or "Joyous Kwanzaa" etc. ? You got some proof of this?

[iReason]

1 hour ago, Orton Rd said:

Anti Islam not anti Muslim at all, why should non Islamic states pander to religious faiths that want to do us harm us? Let them have their Ramadan, but leave us out of the nonsense.

 

 

[vogie]

4 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

Saudi Arabia is not Islam. One of my team took time off last week to attend the confirmation of his daughter in a catholic church in Muscat, presided over by an Indian priest in one of six churches in the city that were built by Sultan Qaboos. Sorry if that doesn't back up your narrative that most Muslim majority countries are intollerant of other cultures, but would you not prefer to rely upon fact to make your point?

I must be missing something here RR, Saudi Arabia is the home of Islam. Qaboos is the sultan of Oman, I was stationed there in the early 70's. Is the Oman in Saudi Arabia?

[ilostmypassword]

2 minutes ago, vogie said:

I must be missing something here RR, Saudi Arabia is the home of Islam. Qaboos is the sultan of Oman, I was stationed there in the early 70's. Is the Oman in Saudi Arabia?

He said Saudi Arabia is not Islam. He didn't say that Saudi Arabia is not the home of Islam. This is just as unobjectionable as like saying that England is not the English language. (cue jokes).

[RuamRudy]

1 minute ago, vogie said:

I must be missing something here RR, Saudi Arabia is the home of Islam. Qaboos is the sultan of Oman, I was stationed there in the early 70's. Is the Oman in Saudi Arabia?

Well spotted - however my point was in reference to the OP suggesting that the majority of Muslim countries were intollerant, citing Saudi Arabia's intollerance of bibles and crosses as justification for his statement.

A simple google search of "Catholic church in...' and insert any ME country will reveal that Chrsitianity is openly practiced in most countries in the region.

[vogie]

Just now, RuamRudy said:

Well spotted - however my point was in reference to the OP suggesting that the majority of Muslim countries were intollerant, citing Saudi Arabia's intollerance of bibles and crosses as justification for his statement.

A simple google search of "Catholic church in...' and insert any ME country will reveal that Chrsitianity is openly practiced in most countries in the region.

Everybody had a good word for Qaboos when I was there he was very pro western and he himself attended Sandhurst.

Would it be fair to say that Saudi Arabia is not tolerent to Christianty?

[ilostmypassword]

Just now, vogie said:

Everybody had a good word for Qaboos when I was there he was very pro western and he himself attended Sandhurst.

Would it be fair to say that Saudi Arabia is not tolerent to Christianty?

Yes, it would be fair to say that one of Donald Trump's most favored nations is not tolerant of Christianity or Judaism or any other religion.

[RuamRudy]

Just now, vogie said:

Everybody had a good word for Qaboos when I was there he was very pro western and he himself attended Sandhurst.

Would it be fair to say that Saudi Arabia is not tolerent to Christianty?

I have no first hand experience of Saudi Arabia, but the impression that I get is that you are correct in your assessment.

 

As for Sultan Qaboos, the locals revere him much in the same way the Thais revered the late King. The concern people have with regards to his health is definitely palpable.

[Nurseynutcase]

Slightly off topic buuut,

 

I am a committed atheist, however, I was always happy to receive christmas cards and greeted people with the words at christmas time.  I have also attended Eid and Diwali celebrations in peoples houses and have always been welcomed by people of all races, creeds, colours and sexual orientation.

 

However as the USA is primarily a christian country should the White House be holding such celebrations?  Does it do the same for people of other non-muslim, non-christian religions?  i.e. jewish, buddist, hindus, etc?  If they do there must be one long party going on in the White House.

[crystal sauce]

At least he's got guts to say no.

Edited May 27, 2017 by crystal sauce