Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2023

March 22, 2023

Today, Jill and I extend our best wishes to Muslim communities across the country and around the world as they begin the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a time of fasting, renewal, charity, worship, and growth.

During this sacred time of reflection, the United States also reaffirms our support to Muslim communities suffering hardships and devastation. We will continue to stand with the people of Turkiye and Syria, who have lost many loved ones during the recent devastating earthquakes, and with the people of Pakistan, who are rebuilding their lives following last summer's floods. Today especially, we remember the universal human right to practice, pray, and preach our faiths peacefully and openly. And together with our partners, the United States stands in solidarity with Muslims who continue to face oppression, including Uyghurs in the People's Republic of China, Rohingya in Burma, and other Muslim communities facing persecution around the world.

During this holy month, we also honor Muslim communities across our Nation that have been part of the American story since our founding. From science and technology, to arts and academia, to law and medicine, to business and government, and beyond, Muslim Americans continue to strengthen our Nation's diverse tapestry generation after generation. So today let us join together across cultures and faiths and renew our commitment to creating a more equal, more just, more tolerant, and more compassionate nation.

To my fellow Americans observing Ramadan and to Muslims around the world: *Ramadan Kareem*âwe wish you a blessed and peaceful Ramadan.

Categories: Statements by the President : Ramadan, observance. Names: Biden, Jill T.

Subjects: Burma, human rights issues; China, human rights issues; Pakistan, flood damage and recovery efforts; Ramadan; Religious freedom; Syria, earthquake damage and recovery efforts; Turkey, earthquake damage and recovery efforts.

DCPD Number: DCPD202300218.

1