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TURKISH MUSLIM IMAM KICKS OFF CONGRESS WITH PRAYER
Today's Zaman
March 5 2010
Turkey
Turkish Muslim imam Abdullah Antepli from Duke University delivered
the opening prayer for the US House of Representatives on Wednesday,
where the Armenian "genocide" bill was put to the vote in the Foreign
Relations Committee on Thursday.
The US Congress has opened with prayers since 1789 but it is an
honor only three Muslims have been given so far, the last occasion
being in 2003. Antepli was invited to give the prayer by Democrat
Representative David Price from North Carolina.
Antepli prayed that God guide members of Congress and enable them to
serve citizens of the country and all humanity, regardless of gender,
ethnicity or religion. "Fill their hearts and minds with passion
and determination to improve the quality of the life of their fellow
human beings," he recited.
According to Duke University, Turkey-born Antepli is only one of a few
full-time Muslim professors at US higher education institutions. It
says his work focuses on religious leadership for Duke's Muslim
community, pastoral care and counseling for people of any faith or
belief, and intra- and interfaith work.
"Grant them success in their efforts to wipe out poverty, ignorance,
racism and hatred in this country and beyond," Antepli said in his
historic prayer before Congressmen.
Speaking to the IslamOnline (IOL) news portal, Antepli said the news
that a Muslim imam was to deliver the opening prayer for Congress
came as a breath of fresh air. "It lifted some of the burden from the
hearts and minds of many Muslims who have been wounded by post-9/11
realities in the US," he said.
05 March 2010, Friday TODAY'S ZAMAN Ä°STANBUL
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz -web/news-203412-100-turkish-muslim-imam-kicks-off -congress-with-prayer.html
Today's Zaman
March 5 2010
Turkey
Turkish Muslim imam Abdullah Antepli from Duke University delivered
the opening prayer for the US House of Representatives on Wednesday,
where the Armenian "genocide" bill was put to the vote in the Foreign
Relations Committee on Thursday.
The US Congress has opened with prayers since 1789 but it is an
honor only three Muslims have been given so far, the last occasion
being in 2003. Antepli was invited to give the prayer by Democrat
Representative David Price from North Carolina.
Antepli prayed that God guide members of Congress and enable them to
serve citizens of the country and all humanity, regardless of gender,
ethnicity or religion. "Fill their hearts and minds with passion
and determination to improve the quality of the life of their fellow
human beings," he recited.
According to Duke University, Turkey-born Antepli is only one of a few
full-time Muslim professors at US higher education institutions. It
says his work focuses on religious leadership for Duke's Muslim
community, pastoral care and counseling for people of any faith or
belief, and intra- and interfaith work.
"Grant them success in their efforts to wipe out poverty, ignorance,
racism and hatred in this country and beyond," Antepli said in his
historic prayer before Congressmen.
Speaking to the IslamOnline (IOL) news portal, Antepli said the news
that a Muslim imam was to deliver the opening prayer for Congress
came as a breath of fresh air. "It lifted some of the burden from the
hearts and minds of many Muslims who have been wounded by post-9/11
realities in the US," he said.
05 March 2010, Friday TODAY'S ZAMAN Ä°STANBUL
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz -web/news-203412-100-turkish-muslim-imam-kicks-off -congress-with-prayer.html