Click to play videoThrissur: It's the month of Ramzaan and the perfect time to engage in some Iftaar diplomacy. The US embassy has reached out to the influential Muslim community in Kerala by organising an Iftar party and they say it's all US President Barack Obama's initiative to spread the message that his administration is not anti-Islam.
Minister-Counsellor for Public Affairs, Larry Schwartz said, "We want to say to Muslims all over the world that we respect their holy month and we know how hard it is to fast."
The US government struck on this idea to dispel accusations that it is discriminating against Muslims. At the Iftar party, even a message from President Obama was played out and it's import was that the US is not at war with Islam.
The message from President Obama was: "The US is taking the responsibility of building a peaceful and secure world, that is why we are ending the war in Iraq and empowering people in Afghanistan and Pakistan."
The Iftar is just the starting leg of a cross-country tour. US mission officials from New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata will travel to 23 cities to spread President Obama's message of peace.
(With inputs from Naveen Nair in Thiruvananthapuram)
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