Obama Praises Islam at Ramadan Dinner

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday praised Islam as an integral part of the United States, which is celebrated in the United States of prominent Muslims in the Iftar dinner during the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

"For more than one billion Muslims, Ramadan, the time of intense devotion and reflection," Obama said in greeting the guests in the state dining room at the White House.

"Tonight's iftar is a ritual, which considers that it is Ramadan at the kitchen table and mosques in 50 states," Obama said.

"Islam, as is known, is part of America. Like most U.S. citizens, the American Muslim community is an extraordinary dynamism and diversity.

"In this regard, we note the holy month of Ramadan, and we also welcome the number of Muslims, America and its culture in a way that enriches the large and small," the president said.

Among the guests was praised Obama Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, rookie from the University of Memphis, who has more points than any other girl or boy in the history of basketball from high school in Massachusetts.

"Recently told a reporter:" I want to inspire many Muslim girls, when they play basketball. All you want is possible, it can do, "said Obama, a well-known love of the sport.

"Bilkis is a source of inspiration not only for Muslim girls, she is an inspiration to us all."
The president also recognized the first two Muslim lawmakers in the US Congress, Keith Ellison and Andre Carson.

In his message on the occasion of Ramadan last week, Obama promised to "renew concrete measures" to relations with Islamic countries, less than three months after his historic speech to the Muslim world in Cairo.

I said to reaffirm their commitment to a new beginning between the U.S. and Muslims around the world, "Obama, in a video prepared for a destination in the world, about 1.5 million Muslims, the month of fasting and reflection.

President, who has a Muslim heritage of her father `S side of his family, also pledged" unwavering support for the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and "responsible end to the war in Iraq."

Islam month of fasting began last month in most countries of the Arab world and Iran.