Diverse community enjoys feast at Turkic American Alliance iftar


Date posted: August 7, 2013

Kyle Schmoyer

The Turkic American Alliance in Washington, D.C. hosted a traditional iftar dinner, inviting the community to break the day’s fast together.

Dr. Faruk Taban, President, TAA: “That’s the whole meaning of the month of Ramadan. To get together with the families and friends, even the very diverse population.”

A truly diverse cross-section of the community came to break bread and enjoy a traditional Turkic feast.

Rep. Keith Ellison, (D) Minnesota: “Ramadan represents an opportunity for us to come together. And everyone is welcome to the iftar. People of all faith traditions. And it’s a chance for us to get to know each other a little bit better.”

Peter Kovach, US State Department (Retired): “In this diverse society, the openness of Muslims to invite non-Muslims to iftars is just an incredible way to engage across lines and being to build bridges of understand.”

Some guests from afar felt right at home at this religious observance in the heart of our nation’s Capital.

Murktar Djumaliev, Ambassador from Kyrgyzstan: “This is tradition for the Muslim countries. So, it’s good to know, and for me as ambassador that in the United States we also have such a Muslim brotherhood which are sharing food together.”

Kairat Umarov, Ambassador from Kazakhstan: “We all cherish one in the same values in this world. And I think the more people will be sharing food and thought and will be sharing the ideas, I think the world will be that more peaceful.”

A real worldwide wish that people of all faiths can agree on and and enjoy.

Source: GulenMovement , August 6, 2013


Related News

‘The Gulen movement is one of the very few that has managed to live what it preaches.’

Hizmet Movement is, in my view, an Islamically-inspired, Islamically-grounded movement, or Islamically-rooted movement, founded on the universal and fundamental principle of peace and—the essential values of Islam—peace, mercy and compassion, as normative, moral objectives and which seeks to translate these principles into—through the dynamic of ta’aruf, the dynamic of coming to know one another, especially coming to know the other—into a reality, into a living sociological and anthropological reality.

Bad news for Erdoğan’s lawyers in the US

Several weeks ago, a lawyer based in England and Canada, Mr. Robert Amsterdam, announced in the US that he had been hired by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government to sue Fethullah Gülen and the Hizmet movement.

Ufuk Dialogue Foundation honours The Sun MD, others

For Mr. Femi Adesina, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, meritorious awards kept coming. Among the series of awards, some are really special, especially when it is about peace-building or in recognition of efforts aimed at cementing the fragmented, polarized Nigeria. On Thursday, July 10, Adesina added another feather to his cap when Ufuk […]

Don’t draw us into your family fight: Washington

The United States has told Ankara it has no any intention of getting involved into what it calls “a family fight,” denying conspiracy theories suggesting Washington’s role in the ongoing struggle between the government and the powerful Gülen community that has exploded with a new corruption probe. “Please don’t draw us into your family fight here. We don’t want one side or the other to feed this conspiracy idea that we are against the prime minister or against Fethullah Gülen Hocaefendi,”

“Sharing Coexistence Experiences” panel took place in Italy

“From 1990 onwards, dialogue was institutionalized and today’s Intercultural Dialogue Platform came into being, thanks to the initiatives of JWF Honorary President Fethullah Gulen. Consequently, joints projects have been carried out in cooperation with Msgr.. Marovitch from the Catholic world, who had been following the footsteps of Dubois; alongside Armenian, Jewish, Assyrian representatives.

Turkish-American community grapples with Turkey coup’s aftermath

Dr. Gokcek said he is not optimistic. He is fearful about the growing tensions in the country and coup sympathizers who might be stigmatized as traitors. On a basic level, Gokcek said, he has been able to sit down and eat with other Turkish-Americans with whom he might not always agree. “Some of those friends, I might not be able to now,” he said.

Latest News

Turkish inmate jailed over alleged Gülen links dies of heart attack in prison

Message of Condemnation and Condolences for Mass Shooting at Bondi Beach, Sydney

Media executive Hidayet Karaca marks 11th year in prison over alleged links to Gülen movement

ECtHR faults Turkey for convictions of 2,420 applicants over Gülen links in follow-up to 2023 judgment

New Book Exposes Erdoğan’s “Civil Death Project” Targeting the Hizmet Movement

European Human Rights Treaty Faces Legal And Political Tests

ECtHR rejects Turkey’s appeal, clearing path for retrials in Gülen-linked cases

Erdoğan’s Civil Death Project’ : The ‘politicide’ spanning more than a decade

Fethullah Gülen’s Vision and the Purpose of Hizmet

In Case You Missed It

The Real Enemy Within Turkey

Daily Trust Editorial: In Turkey, fresh affront on democracy

Turkish experts and doctors seek asylum in Greece

Zaman Media Group receives 5 awards from WAN-IFRA

Becoming a Dialogue Movement: What Can Dialogue Learn from Other Movements?

Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) bridging Eastern, Western worlds

Dialogue and Friendship Dinner Unites Multi-Cultural, Faith Groups

Copyright 2026 Hizmet News