By IANS,
Washington : The US administration has appointed a Muslim woman as adviser to its interfaith advisory board, a media report said Monday.
Dalia Mogahed, an Egyptian-born American, Sunday addressed the senate staff and think tanks in her first meeting after her appointment. The meeting was organised by the Congressional Muslims Staffers Association.
Mogahed, who heads the Gallup American Centre for Muslim Studies, a non-governmental research centre, became the first Muslim veiled woman to be appointed in the White House, Geo TV said.
“I am very honoured to be given this opportunity to serve my country in this way,” Mogahed, who will be Obama’s window into the Muslim American community, told the media.
Last month, Obama signed an executive order for setting up a new body at the White House called the Office of Religious Partnerships to support religious institutions, strengthen inter-faith dialogue and government ties.
The advisory group, consisting of 25 representatives from different religions, is to report to the president on the role of religion in resolving social problems and civil rights issues.
“The key idea of the office is to tap the energy and wisdom of religious organisations and leaders who focus on faith groups to solve common problems,” explained Mogahed.
Mogahed will brief Obama on what Muslims want from the US administration.