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Michigan Muslims Cheer Obama Speech
Muslim Americans in metro Detroit said they were pleased with President Barack Obama’s speech on Islam today in Egypt, in which he praised the contributions of Muslims living in the U.S.
“I think Obama has closed the gap between the Muslim world and America,” said Ned Fawaz, 69, of Dearborn. “He has brought people together.”
In his landmark speech, Obama spoke at length about Muslim Americans, saying that America’s commitment to freedom has allowed them to flourish.
“So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America,” Obama said, according to a White House transcript of the speech.
Suehaila Amen, 30, of Dearborn said that “his speech was extremely positive.”
“He’s giving the Muslim-American community the praise and respect that it has not been given in the past,” Amen said.
In his speech, Obama intertwined Islam with the values and history of America.
“Freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one’s religion,” Obama said. “That is why there is a mosque in every state in our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That’s why the United States government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab and to punish those who would deny it.”
Obama also touched upon the concerns that some Muslims have about their civil rights in recent years.
“Rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation,” Obama said. “That is why I am committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat.”
Osama Siblani, publisher of the Arab-American News, joined a few other Arab-American leaders at the Lebanese-American Heritage Club in Dearborn to talk about the speech.
“There is a change in attitude,” Siblani said. “I hope it leads to a change in policies.”
Obama called for end to Israeli settlements, which has been a sticking point in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
But some members of the Jewish community said it was not right for Obama to pressure Israel.
“The settlements are not the problem,” said Mark Segel, 56, of Southfield. “The problem is Arabs not acknowledging the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state.”
Segel said Obama and his advisers are “pressuring the wrong people” and should be focusing more on the problem of Islamic extremism.
Robert Cohen, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Metro Detroit, said:
“We share the vision and hope that the president set forth for Arab-Israeli reconciliation. We noted that he reasserted the commitment of the United States to Israel’s security and the U.S.-Israel relationship.”
Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press