America
Obama meets Muslim leaders
Washington, Feb 5
US President Barack Obama has met his country's Muslim leaders to discuss a range of national and foreign policy issues.
Health
reform, violence and discrimination against Muslims, the White House
summit on extremism and the fight against the the Islamic State (IS)
terrorist group were some of the matters discussed, the White House said
in a statement Wednesday after the meeting.
"The president
reiterated his administration's commitment to safeguarding civil rights
through hate crimes prosecutions and civil enforcement actions," the
release said.
Obama also expressed the need to keep up the fight
against the IS and other terrorist groups that "commit horrific acts of
violence, purportedly in the name of Islam", the statement added.
The
president used the occasion to highlight the "major contributions" of
Muslim Americans to the nation and encouraged the leaders of this
community to continue being involved in civil society.