Obama's Muslim Envoy Coming to Dearborn

posted on: Aug 12, 2010

President Barack Obama’s adviser to the Muslim world is coming to the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn on Sunday to discuss U.S. foreign policy at a Ramadan dinner hosted by U.S. Rep. John Conyers.

Rashad Hussain, 31, is the special envoy of the U.S. to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, a group of about 57 Muslim countries that acts as an international public voice.

After being appointed earlier this year by Obama, Hussain came under criticism for remarks he made in 2004 on a Muslim Students Association panel, in which he said the U.S. prosecution of some terrorism suspects, including Sami Al-Arian, was politically motivated.

Hussain later voiced regret about those comments, saying they “were ill conceived or not well formulated,” in a statement to Politico.

Hussain is tasked with reaching out to the Muslim world. Hussain, who is of Indian descent, was in India this month on a nine-day trip to reach out to Muslims, according to Indian newspapers.

Hussain’s visit to Dearborn comes as Muslims mark the holy month of Ramadan. Obama said Wednesday that: “Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been part of America and that American Muslims have made extraordinary contributions to our country.”

Obama has praised Hussain for being a hafiz, meaning someone who has memorized the entire Quran, the holy book for Muslims that they believe is the word of God.

Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press