Editor’s note: President Obama’s speech at the Cairo University was part of his five-day trip, which kicked off with a meeting with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The trip was made in part to improve the relationship between the United States and the Muslim world.
A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group called President Obama’s historic address to the Muslim world on June 4th in Cairo “comprehensive, balanced and forthright” and said it may help reverse the deterioration in relations between the United States and Muslim-majority nations.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) hosted a live viewing that morning of the president’s speech for leaders and members of the Muslim community in the Washington, D.C., area. CAIR chapters around the nation held similar viewings.
In a statement following that viewing, CAIR said: “President Obama’s comprehensive, balanced and forthright address covered almost all the bases in terms of issues of concern to Americans, American Muslims and those in Muslim-majority nations. It may serve as a turning point in what have been deteriorating relations between America and the Muslim world.”
“CAIR appreciates the president’s acknowledgment of the contributions American Muslims have made and continue to make to our nation and to the protection of civil rights. We applaud the president’s commitment to work with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill their religious obligation of charitable giving.”
“We back the president’s call for the rejection of religious extremism and his support for the spread of representative government, the right to religious freedom and the right of women worldwide to equal rights and opportunities.”
“We ask that people of all faiths in this nation and around the world use the opportunity presented by this important address to turn the page of history and to join together based on ‘mutual interest and ...