A New DFW Tradition! -North Texas Iftar with City Officials

On Wednesday, April 20th, CAIR-Texas Austin & DFW and the North Texas Islamic Council (NTIC) hosted the first annual North Texas Iftar with City Officials, inaugurating a new annual tradition in the North Texas community. 

In the event, some 200 activists, local politicians, & community members came together to recognize and celebrate the achievements of long-time leaders and organizers in the DFW area. After introductory remarks from CAIR-Texas Executive Director Faizan Syed, Dallas county Judge Clay Jenkins took the stage to speak about his history working with the Muslim community, followed by recorded messages from local DFW-area mayors who were attending Iftar celebrations elsewhere in the metroplex. 

Guests of honor included board members of local Islamic centers, Islamic schools, and civic/political advocacy organizations, and the evening brought together many friends and colleagues who have spent decades building their local Dallas/Fort Worth communities. Among these local dignitaries, five "lifetime achievement awards" were given in recognition of outstanding lifetime community service, service which is responsible for the foundation of many of the institutions and mosques which form the backbone of Muslim social life in North Texas today. 

Students from CAIR-Texas' youth leadership program assisted with Emceeing the event, and the Iftar also featured beautiful Qur'an recitation and an adhan (call to prayer) by a local student from the IANT Quranic Academy (IQA).

A special thanks to the host committee for making this program possible:

  • Mujeeb Kazi - President of NTIC
  • Faizan Syed - Executive Director of CAIR-TX Austin & DFW
  • Aisha U-Kiu - NTIC board member
  • Saif Malik - Good Citizens
  • Omran Zbeida - Development & Outreach Consultant CAIR-TX
  • Nick Orzech - Administrative Assistant CAIR-TX

    Our team is grateful to everyone that was able to attend this exciting event, and looks forward to hosting the Iftar again next Ramadan, insha'Allah (God willing).