Muslim and Arab American Heroes Honored

(Washington, DC) - On Saturday, January 26th, the Islamic Institute and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) hosted a luncheon to honor five Muslim and Arab American police officers and firefighters who heroically participated in the rescue efforts in New York and at the Pentagon on 9/11. The officers honored were: Adil Almontaser, Rafet Awad, Faisal Khan, and Ahmed Nasser of the New York Police Department, and Ronald J. Kuley of the Fairfax, Virginia Fire Department. The event drew over 120 members and leaders of the Muslim and Arab American communities as well as representatives of the Bush Administration and of members of Congress.

Following lunch at the Hotel Washington, Ms. Nina Shokraii Rees, Deputy Assistant to the Vice President, read a message of greetings to the gathering and the officers from President Bush. In the President’s message, he sent “special congratulations to the police officers being honored for your extraordinary contributions to our Nation.” The President continued, “America’s police officers and firefighters play an essential role in preserving and protecting the quality of life in our communities. These brave public servants put aside their own well-being to defend against crime, threats to our safety, and devastating property damage… The events that followed last September’s terrorist attacks clearly demonstrate that fire and law enforcement professionals are among our country’s greatest heroes. The distinguished tradition of public service can only be upheld by men and women of character and professionalism. I commend those honored today for your role in promoting and achieving that goal.”

Ralph Boyd, Jr., the Assistant Attorney General and Director of the Civil Rights division at the Department of Justice, also gave remarks congratulating the officers and commending them for their devotion to service and their faith. After a word from Suhail Khan, Legal Counsel at the Department of Transportation, remarks were made by Islamic Institute Chairman of the Board Khaled Saffuri and ADC President Ziad Asali thanking the officers for their commitment to the people of their communities. They then presented the officers with commemorative plaques honoring their service.

Mr. Almontaser then spoke for the other officers, thanking the sponsors and guests at the crowded event for their support and congratulations. He also announced the intentions of the officers to establish a Muslim association of police officers in the United States to encourage Muslim Americans to choose law enforcement as a career.

The Islamic Institute salutes the brave Muslim men and women who courageously risked their lives to save their fellow Americans in New York and Washington, D.C. on September 11th.

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