New York - The White House released on Sunday the names of its guests invited to President Obama’s Final State of the Union Address (SOTU) on Tuesday.
A Syrian refugee and a Muslim American will be among the honored invitees to be seated in the ‘guest box’ with First Lady Michelle Obama at the House of Representatives when President Obama lays out his 2016 plan.
“We've invited people from around the country who represent the progress we've made over the past seven years to come watch it from the guest box,” The White House official Facebook page announced.
Syrian refugee Refaai Hamo will be among the 22 guests (plus one vacant seat for the ‘Victims of Gun Violence’) during Obama’s SOTU address that will be broadcast live to the American people.
According to The White House official press release, Refaai Hamo arrived in Detroit, Michigan last December 18 after two years in Turkey as a Syrian refugee.
Hamo, a PhD, worked in construction in Syria. He was married to his high-school sweetheart with whom he had five children. He was forced to flee his home country after Syrian government missile destroyed the complex where he and his family lived.
Hamo’s wife, one of his daughters and five other relatives died in the attack. He fled to Turkey with his surviving children, but was diagnosed with stomach cancer, The White House revealed.
The Syrian and his family sought asylum in the U.S. where he received refugee status to move to Troy, Michigan.
According to The White House, President Obama was touched by Hamo’s story and wrote him, “Welcome to your new home. You’re part of what makes America great.”
The list of guests accompanying the First Lady represent those subjects, which are a priority to the president.
Obama’s invitation of a Syrian refugee is a direct response to his government’s opposition, the Republican Party, whose representatives want to halt the resettlement of refugees into the United States.
Also representing the Muslim community in the U.S. will be Naveed Shah, a Muslim and U.S. Army Veteran, originally from Saudi Arabia, of Pakistani descent, who grew up in the Washington D.C. area.
Shah joined the U.S. Army in 2006, was deployed to Iraq and was in active service for four years. He now lives in Springfield, Virginia and works helping Veterans adjust to a civilian life, The White House noted.
Following the anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, The White House’s invitation of a Muslim and a Syrian refugee to such important event, speaks volumes of the Obama Administration.
A symbolic gesture of acceptance, tolerance, unity and an example of the true values of America, a country built by immigrants from every corner of the world with freedom of religious choice.
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