US President Joe Biden and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have joined the chorus of world leaders congratulating the world’s Muslims marking Eid-ul-Azha.
Canada and the US are celebrating Eid-ul-Azha or the feast of sacrifice today along with many countries across the world, including Saudi Arabia.
Recalling the significance of Eid as the “great holiday” of Islam, Biden conveyed his and Jill Biden’s best wishes to all Muslims celebrating the feast – particularly in the US.
Biden also announced that the White House will host Eid-ul-Azha celebrations for the first time, with Vice-President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff organising a ceremony convening Muslim community leaders from across the US.
“In the United States, we are proud to be home to millions of Muslims who enrich our nation’s cultural fabric and contribute to our shared prosperity,” Biden said. “We value the countless contributions American Muslims make to our society, from education and healthcare to business and public service.”
The US president further argued that the presence of Muslim communities strengthens America’s commitment to cultural diversity and religious freedom.
For his part, Canada’s PM Trudeau emphasised that the feast is a source of inspiration as it spreads different values – including sharing, compassion, and charity demonstrated by Muslims in Canada each and every day.
“We reaffirm that everyone in Canada and around the world should be free to practice their faith without fear,” Trudeau said, noting that his government will continue to fight against Islamophobia and hatred in all its forms.
These Eid messages come as both the US and Canada continue to pledge to stand up against Islamophobia, which has been alarmingly increasing throughout the West.
According to a recent Gallup report, “religion and culture outpace politics across all regions surveyed as the root cause of tension between Muslim and Western worlds.”
“This is significant in discussions about Islamophobia, considering political interests can vary and change while cultural and religious differences are more ingrained within populations,” the report stressed.
Source: Morocco World News
BDST: 1323 HRS, JUNE 29, 2023
MSK
