Ambassador

Speeches

Fiji Muslim League National Celebration of Prophet Muhammad's Birthday

March 9, 2009

The President and Executives of the Fiji Muslim League
Distinguished Guests
Dear Muslims
Ladies and Gentlemen

Assalamu-alai-kum

On behalf of President Barack Obama and the people of the United States of America, let me offer our greetings on this, most auspicious day – the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammed.  I am honored to be here as Chief Guest and to partake in your national celebration. Muslims in Fiji, and in the United States of America, have contributed enormously to our respective communities and societies.

Although a minority, Muslims make up a sizeable number of Fiji’s population. I note that the Fiji Muslim League operates and runs some of Fiji’s most respected primary and secondary schools, as well as other educational institutions. Your continued efforts in building the strengthening of the foundation of Fiji society is no doubt born out of your Islamic conviction and teachings of the Holy Prophet.

This celebration today commemorates the life and teachings of one of the most influential figures of history.  Prophet Muhammed founded and spread one of the world’s great religions, Islam. The Prophet preached values of faith, honesty, respect, tolerance and understanding, espoused today by over a billion Muslims worldwide -- values that we all share.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am especially honored to receive this invitation from the Fiji Muslim League, to address you all today, as it gives me an opportunity to speak more about some misconceptions regarding my country and Islam.

America has had a long and proud association with the Islamic faith. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the United States. It is practiced freely and widely by more than 2.35 million American Muslims. There are now more than 2000 mosques across the U.S., doubling in the last 15 years alone. The Islamic Centre of America in Dearborn, Michigan, the largest mosque in the U.S., is a 70,000 square foot facility, which can accommodate more than 3000 Muslims for prayers at one time.

As Americans, we take pride in the heritage of our nation as a beacon of hope, tolerance, and justice for all. American Muslim innovators have contributed immensely in fields such as physics, economics, engineering and medicine.  Islam has a rich heritage, and from the earliest days of our Republic, has been an integral part of the American tapestry.  My country finds its strength in the diverse contributions of Americans of all backgrounds and all faiths.

America strives by the values our forefathers have instilled in the very fabric of our existence. One of these is respecting, espousing and protecting the right to freedom of worship.

Article Six of the United States Constitution provides that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."  Prior to the inclusion of the Bill of Rights, this was the only mention of religious freedom in the Constitution.  However, many of our founding leaders did not feel this went far enough.  Immediately following ratification of our Constitution, our leaders approved the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.  The separation of church and state is a legal and political principle that is the foundation of this amendment. 

Democratic governments with constitutionally protected religious freedom create societies where people can live and worship as they choose without intimidation, without suspicion, without a knock on the door from soldiers or police. It is a precious freedom. It is a basic compact under which people of faith agree not to impose their spiritual vision on others, and in return to practice their own beliefs as they see fit. This is the calling of our conscience, and a source of our strength.

Fortunately, freedom of religion is vibrant and strong throughout the Pacific.  Unfortunately democracy has yet to be realized in Fiji.

We do not object to efforts to promulgate fair and equitable electoral changes, but in a true democracy, these changes must be made through inclusive, transparent discussions and constitutional processes that incorporate the views and aspirations of all Fijians.

We agree with the Pacific Islands Forum that more than two years of rule by an unelected military government, with no clear timetable for the return of constitutional government by the people for the people and of the people is just not the way forward.  We call upon all Fijians to work together to ensure a rapid return to democracy.  It is when all people join in common cause that they can solve their toughest challenges.

Americans have joined in common cause to overcome ignorance and prejudice when it comes to Islam.  America has been accused of being anti-Islam when we undertake measures to protect ourselves from terrorist activities.  Let there be no doubt that we shall prevail against extremists.

However, we believe that the face of terror is not the true face of Islam.  We must break through the stereotypes associated with this distortion.  Our societies can do this through education, people-to-people exchanges, and by encouraging responsible representations.

The message I am conveying is that our common humanity is expressed accurately when we live in a democratic environment; where there's respect for religious values, and respect for religious freedom. 

We are all deeply saddened when there are spectacular attacks on Muslim holy sites.  Men and women of conscience have a duty to speak out and condemn these random murderous acts. We stand in solidarity with the millions of Muslims who struggle to ensure a proud and historic religion from the misguided who seek to harm rather than seek peace.

We have seen that friendship reflected in the outpouring of support Americans have extended to Muslim communities across the globe during times of war and natural disaster.  Only recently, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged over 900 million U.S. dollars to Palestinian Muslims in Gaza and the West Bank, to help them rebuild and find a peaceful way toward reconciliation.

President Barack Obama in his inauguration address reached out to the Muslim world and expressed that we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.   There should be no doubt about our President’s willingness to work with the Islamic world.  He once described the Islamic call to prayer to a New York Times reporter as “one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset.”  This is an indication of his enthusiastic willingness to reach out and represents the compassion as well as our hope to reflect the common humanity that binds us together. 

Ladies and Gentlemen; it has been my profound pleasure to be here with you this morning to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammed.  I thank you for giving me the opportunity to share these views for I too believe God is truly great.          Ends. ##