Maryland Governor Wes Moore Hosts State's First-Ever Official Eid ul-Fitr Celebration

Annapolis, MD – April 4, 2025 – In a historic first for the state, Governor Wes Moore welcomed Maryland’s Muslim community to the Governor’s Mansion for an official Eid ul-Fitr celebration. The event marked the first time a sitting Maryland governor has formally recognized the holiday in this manner, signaling a new era of civic inclusion for the state’s Muslim residents.

The gathering brought together Muslim leaders, community members, and civic advocates from across Maryland and the broader region. Rahat Husain, Executive Director of the Shia Muslim Foundation (SMF), attended the event alongside other prominent community figures.

Governor Moore reflected on the broader meaning of the event in his remarks. He acknowledged that Muslims in Maryland continue to shape the state’s identity, character, and future, and described their presence at the Governor’s Mansion as long overdue. He emphasized that the Mansion is meant to be a home for all the people of Maryland, and that it felt incomplete until this gathering.

“This event was more than symbolic,” said Rahat Husain. “It was a recognition that Muslims belong fully in the civic and political spaces of this state. We often talk about representation and visibility—this was both, and it came with sincerity and openness from the state’s highest office.”

Husain added that for many Muslims in Maryland, particularly those from immigrant and minority backgrounds, such recognition carries weight. “When state leadership makes the effort to engage our communities during our sacred celebrations, it shows respect. It tells younger generations that they are not outsiders.”

The Shia Muslim Foundation, based in Washington, D.C., advocates for the civil rights of American Shia Muslims and works to address pressing social and political challenges affecting Muslim communities domestically and internationally. The Foundation has long called for deeper civic engagement with underrepresented Muslim communities, including Shia Muslims, who often face distinct challenges within the broader American Muslim experience.

SMF views Governor Moore’s leadership as a promising sign of progress. “We hope this is the beginning of an ongoing dialogue between Maryland’s government and its Muslim residents,” Husain said. “The state’s diversity is one of its strengths—and last night, that was made visible.”

For media inquiries, contact:

Farhana Kassamali

Press Contact, Shia Muslim Foundation

farhana@shiamuslimfoundation.com