Olympia proclaims July 2023 Muslim Heritage Month

The Olympia City Council signed a proclamation designating July 2023 as Muslim Heritage Month.

At Tuesday's city council meeting, Dr. Amna Qazi of the Islamic Center of Olympia thanked the city council for the proclamation.

"Muslim American Heritage Month is a way to educate all Americans on our positive impacts in American society," Qazi said.

Qazi shared that Islam is a religion of universalism, tolerance, peace, and reconciliation, teaching that life is sacred and that believers must uphold truth and justice. Social justice is the core principle of Islam.

“Islam teaches us to respect everyone regardless of faith, gender, color, creed, or social status,”  Qazi added.

However, Qazi noted that Islamophobia is on the rise, and anti-Muslim sentiments have spiked in recent years, manifesting through burning or mosque vandalism. "The only way forward for all of us is to work with each other. In case of this crisis, we can reach out to our officials to help in that regard."

In proclaiming the Muslim American Heritage Month, the city council "recommits itself to standing against hate and injustice in all forms, and combatting anti-Muslim rhetoric through awareness, education, community, and meaningful action."

Seemab Husseini of the Council on American Islamic Relations in Washington State (CAIRS) said the city-level recognition is an "acknowledgment of the beauty that the immigrants bring to the city."

"It is a sign that the city truly cares about people and works to engage and uplift all of those within it," Husseini said.

Olympia recognized the Muslim American community through the proclamation for supporting and assisting people through charitable contributions, social activism, and community groups.