Ramadan brought together Washington diplomats, cultural organizations and government sectors for a month of evening iftar feasts in accordance with Muslim tradition. Celebrated by nearly two billion Muslims worldwide, the holy month is a time of increased prayer, reflection and charity, along with fasting during daylight hours.
Tunisian Ambassador Hanène Tajouri Bessassi welcomed fellow diplomats and the Muslim Women’s Association of Washington to her residence on March 14 for an iftar celebration. The evening featured a performance by Tunisian musicians and a lecture on the nation’s history by Georgetown University professor Khalil Derbel.
Guests included Côte d’Ivoire Ambassador Ibrahima Toure and his wife, as well as spouses from Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei, Iraq, and Sudan.
A few days later, the National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual iftar, continuing a 14-year tradition that was the first of its kind when it began.
Held in partnership with the League of Arab States at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the event provided the opportunity for people of all faiths to break bread with one another and encouraged cultural awareness of Arab and Islamic traditions within the community. It also provided space for reflection of the conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere.
“Ramadan is a time of celebration, but it is also a time of remembrance and reflection,” NUSACC president David Hamod said. “This has been a very challenging year in the Middle East and North Africa, with more than 50,000 people losing their lives to wars, failed migration, disease, starvation, and natural disasters.”
The March 18 event welcomed dozens of business executives and government officials, along with 14 current and former foreign ambassadors. In addition to a hearty feast, guests heard remarks from Imam Mohamad Bashar Arafat, president of the Islamic Affairs Council of Maryland, while Hamod shared stories of the Arab world.
The evening concluded with a drawing where guests were entered to win one of four complementary stays at Ritz-Carlton locations in the area.
The White House welcomed Muslim government leaders and diplomats to its annual iftar dinner on March 27. President Donald Trump opened the evening wishing guests a happy Ramadan and thanked the Muslim community for supporting him in the 2024 election.
“The Muslim community was there for us in November and while I’m president I’ll be there for you,” he said, renewing a commitment to bring peace to the Middle East.
Several members of the diplomatic community were in attendance, including ambassador of Saudi Arabia Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, and representatives from more than 20 embassies in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
