- Utah Muslims celebrate first Muslim Heritage Month
- Special events, hijab discussions, interfaith dinners held during the month
- Celebration brings community members closer, breaks barriers
Conversations about the hijab, prayer meets, interfaith dinners and more were part of the events hosted by the Utah Muslim Civic League to mark Utah’s first Muslim American Heritage Month.
Though the law designating July as heritage month passed last year, this is the first time Muslim community was able to host various events.
“It’s amazing. You don’t think that it would happen,” says Rukhsana Iqbal with the Utah Muslim Civic League, a local nonprofit that helps Muslims thrive, Fox 13 reported .
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Last year, Gov. Spencer Cox signed into law to recognize every July as Muslim American Heritage Month.
“We were just in shock,” Iqbal recalls.
Iqbal believes those events would build bridges between Muslims and the larger community.
The goal of these events is “making people more aware and giving them more opportunities to see us, hear us, be part of us share our differences — and at the same time, embrace them.”
“When we think of Muslims, we just put them in one box which is not the case, we are the most diverse. And we’re from all walks of life,” Iqbal said.
This follows in line with the stances of other states that have recognized the contributions of Muslims and their achievements.
Earlier this month, American Muslims welcomed the proclamation by the city of Richmond, Virginia, designating July as Muslim American Heritage Month.
Also in 2023, Muslims celebrated the signing of the Muslim Heritage Month Resolution into law by New Jersey Governor Philip D. Murphy.