Dr Mozammel Haque
Dr. Debbie Almontaser, Yemeni-American school teacher and community activist, made history on Thursday, 21st January 2021 as the first Muslim woman to offer a prayer by reciting the Qur’an at the Presidential Inaugural National Prayer Service.
It was reported on 21st January, 2021 First full day started with the National anthem; welcome to the Inaugural service, virtual prayer service, inaugural service which should have been in the Washington Cathedral, instead thanks to Covid Washington Cathedral came to them via life Zoom – Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar-Rahim.
Dr. Almontaser started the prayer in Arabic from the Qur’an. She is Yemeni-American activist who led the protest against Donald Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban. President Joe Biden has already overturned.
BBC Channel 4 reporting on Thursday mentioned, American school teacher and community organiser, Debbie Almontaser, made history on Thursday as the first Muslim-American woman to offer a prayer by reciting from Qur’an at the Presidential Inauguration Prayer Service this morning.
Matt Frei, Europe Editor and Presenter of Channel 4 said, she joined from New York with the interview from Channel 4. She was asked: “What is your inclusion in this service this morning meant to you personally?”
Dr Debbie Almontaser answered, Thank you for having me. I really appreciate. I have the opportunity to share my experience. I have to say that today is momentous. It is a historical for me as a Yemeni-American Muslim woman I have this opportunity. I came from people that have been banned as you know; Yemen was on the Muslim Ban and just having me there is a symbolic one as a Muslim and two as the Yemeni-American to show that the pain and suffering that the American Muslim, Yemeni-American and others who have been banned has been affirmed and will be repealed and as you know last night Muslim Ban was repealed which is really glorious step for all of us.
“Is there anything else that this administration should be doing to make Muslims of America to be more included? Matt Frei enquired again.
Dr Almontaser said, “I think that so far they have their honour to have great start by making sort of appointing and hiring high ranking Muslim-Americans into the Government and it has really been very wonderful to see a number of people that have actually been appointed and I believe we need to do more that.
She also continued, “Most importantly, I should deliver and promise for me during the campaign and some of those promises after the Muslim Ban is actually making sure that Arab-American are designated as minorities for educational opportunities; for me and Yemeni-Americans ensuring that the war in Yemen will be stopped and that there would be a resolution to this war and that there would be the promise and commitment that President Joe Biden touring the campaign was to restore the aid that has been cut off by Donald Trump by 40% and to make sure that he is going to bring all parties in Yemen and the UAE and Saudi Arabia to ensure a peace plan.
Writing in twitter.com @Debbie on 22 January 2021
Dr Debbie Almontaser said, “It was an honour for me as the First Yemeni American woman to have been invited to offer a prayer at the Presidential Inaugural National Prayer Service. This is an affirmation of the Yemeni community and other banned countries who suffered under the MuslimBan.
About Dr Debbie Almontaser
Dr Debbie Almontaser is an internationally recognised award-winning educator, speaker and authority on cross-cultural understanding. She was the founding principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy, a New York Arab-themed public school, named after the Christian Arab poet Khalil Gibran.
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