Several Muslim leaders to boycott iftar by White House

WASHINGTON: Several American Muslim leaders are boycotting the annual Iftar reception hosted by the White House over its policies on the conflict in Gaza.

Instead, they’ve announced to have their own Iftar event outside the White House.

In wake of expecting fewer attendees, the Biden White House is scaling down the Iftar event that also commemorates the end of the Holy month and marks the Eid, according to the U.S. media. Senior administration officials as well as envoys from muslim majority-countries are expected to attend the Iftar. The White House Iftar reception is taking place today (Tuesday evening).

Few other Islamic organizations have announced to arrange their own Iftar event outside the White House the same evening. The event is titled as ‘People’s White House Ceasefire Now Iftar’.

These organizations include the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Muslim American Society, American Muslim Task Force.

Cair’s national executive director, in a statement last month, criticized Biden saying that even though the President had been more forceful about Israel’s war in Gaza but he’s still not going far enough. These Islamic organizations and prominent American Muslim leaders have been protesting against Israel’s war and have been demanding the Biden administration to push for an immediate and permanent cease-fire in Gaza.