A White House event meant to mark a Muslim holiday attracted condemnation and boycotts from some Democrats and American Muslim groups in the context of growing violence in the Middle East. The White House hosted a virtual celebration on Sunday (May 16) to mark Eid al-Fitr, an important holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. The world’s Muslims observed the holiday on Thursday. “We also believe that Palestinians and Israelis equally deserve to live in safety and security,” President Joe Biden said during the video address released Sunday, in which he and first lady Jill Biden sent warm wishes to the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims.

But an open letter from the Muslim Delegates and Allies Coalition, signed by some 60 members of the Democratic Party, pushed back against the timing and fanfare of the event. “In lieu of flowers or condolences for martyred Palestinian children, or even a White House Eid celebration, we request the United States recognize dignity rights worldwide. A first step in recognizing our humanity would be to not allow a policy of mass slaughter in the sacred Islamic month of Ramadan.”

A number of other Muslim leaders and organizations, such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations, boycotted the event.

Source: Religion News Service (RNS)