British Muslim delegation attends Capitol Hill Jummah

On 15th September 2009, a British Muslim delegation met with the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association. Since 2006 the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association (CMSA) has been profiling the concerns and interests of American Muslims particularly within Congress. Aside from initiatives and programmes on public and political policy, religious and cultural affairs and networking the CMSA also holds a Capitol Hill Jummah (Friday Prayer).

A British Muslim delegation made up of government ministers and civil society including Quilliam Director Maajid Nawaz attended Jummah prayers and then met the CMSA during their trip to Washington DC. CMSA staff spoke of the ways in which the association profiles the interests of American Muslims within the US Government and federal agencies. Not only does this give Muslims a voice within government, it also provides a platform to highlight the contributions that American Muslims make to American society.

The fact that American Muslims have made valuable contributions was highlighted by President Obama at a White House Iftar dinner on 1st September 2009. President Obama focused on every day Muslims like high school athlete Bilqis Abdul-Qadir as well as the famous boxer, Muhammad Ali. He said, ‘Indeed, the contribution of Muslims to the United States are too long to catalogue because Muslims are so interwoven in the fabric of our communities and our country’.  

Sadiq Khan MP (UK Minister for Transportation), Hadiya Masieh-Ud-Din (Programme Director, SAVE UK (Sisters Against Violent Extremism)), Raffein Azzaim (Member of Young Muslim Advisory Group) Maajid Nawaz (Director, Quilliam)