Today, we begin the daily commemoration of our Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

We wish all Muslims a ‘Ramadan Kareem’ and a blessed and rewarding month of fasting and self-reflection.

During this, the ninth month of our lunar calendar and the holy month of fasting, we are all reminded of the truly important elements of our lives and how we can strengthen them. We are reminded of our good health, our family, a renewal of faith, and our personal relationship with God.

We are reminded of the sanctity and safety of this great nation which we call home and gives us the comfort and freedom to engage in every facet of the humble spiritual renewal that is Ramadan.

These are the values we all hold dearly, but may often come to take for granted.

Foremost, the fast of Ramadan is a symbolic equalizer for all Muslims from every part of humanity. From the very rich to the very poor, the fortunate or the less fortunate, during this month we find common goodness in the challenge and rewards of the daily fast. At the end of every day of fasting, the hunger and thirst we share is a deep humility that allows us to share a common appreciation for the gifts we have at home and in this nation.

The daily hunger and thirst and recitation of scripture is a remembrance of the cornerstone of free will and discipline in faith as much as it is a sign of health. In hunger and in thirst, we are all equal. It is an equality that not only crosses social, economic, and cultural boundaries, but religious, political and geographical as well. It is a reminder of our shared humanity with every individual around the world.

It is with these thoughts and prayers in mind that we wish Muslims a blessed Ramadan and a rewarding and spiritually fulfilling fast this coming month beginning today.

Blessings,

Zuhdi

M. Zuhdi Jasser, M.D.

Founder and President

American Islamic Forum for Democracy

Dr. Zuhdi Jasser to address:

“How Islam works with democracy”– the need for liberty based reform

PHOENIX (April 25, 2010) – American principles and American Freedom are a laboratory for the reforms necessary in bringing Islam into modernity. Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, president and founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD) will participate in a discussion with other prominent human rights activists at the Oslo Freedom Forum, held April 26 – April 29. Dr. Jasser’s remarks will focus on “How Islam works with democracy” and the obstacles to reform presented by transnational political Islam and western subservience.

“We must foster and promote a debate between spiritual and political Islam within the mosques of America and across the globe to disarm political Islam that has been the petri-dish of modern terrorism,” said Dr. Jasser. “At its very core, political Islam is a denial of a basic right to which every human is entitled – the choice to practice their own religion free of the constraints and influences of the coercion of theocrats.”

The Oslo Freedom Forum 2010 aims to establish a space for leaders and entrepreneurs from around the world to gather to discuss human rights violations and exchange the ideas that might one day eradicate them.

All presentations will be recorded and released at the Oslo Freedom Forum website shortly after the conference.

The mission of the forum is described here.

Dr. Jasser’s webpage at the conference can be found at this link.

Dr. Jasser will be speaking on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 along with Hernando De Soto, Anwar Ibrahim, Geoffrey Nyarota, and Lubna Al-Hussain who will each discuss their “Vision for Tomorrow”.

A devout Muslim, Dr. Jasser founded AIFD in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the United States as an effort to provide an authentic American Muslim voice advocating for the preservation of the founding principles of the United States Constitution, liberty and freedom, and the separation of mosque and state. He is leading the fight to shake the hold that the Muslim Brotherhood and their Network of American Islamist organizations and Mosques have on organized Islam in America.

“I’m humbled to be included in this unprecedented gathering of courageous activists from around the world which are the standard bearers of leadership for the ideas of liberty and freedom for their nations,” said Dr. Jasser. “At AIFD we believe the concepts of liberty and freedom are the principles necessary to transform Islam for the future and protect us against the influence of political Islam.”

A former Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy, Dr. Jasser served 11 years as a medical officer. He is a nationally recognized expert in the contest of ideas against political Islam and American Islamist organizations. He has spoken at hundreds of national and international events including colleges and universities, places of worship, government venues and many other public functions. On October 1, 2009, Dr. Jasser briefed members of the U.S. Congress on the threat of Political Islam. He regularly briefs members of the U.S. House and Senate congressional anti-terror caucuses.

Dr. Jasser is a regular contributor on many local, national and international television and radio programs, as well as frequent source for print.

About the American Islamic Forum for Democracy

The American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. AIFD’s mission advocates for the preservation of the founding principles of the United States Constitution, liberty and freedom, through the separation of mosque and state. For more information on AIFD, please visit our website at http://www.aifdemocracy.org/.

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