US President Joe Biden sends 'warmest' Ramadan greetings to Muslims ahead of fasting month

"Jill and I send our warmest greetings and best wishes to Muslim communities in the United States and around the world. Ramadan Kareem," Biden said in a statement.

"As many of our fellow Americans begin fasting tomorrow, we are reminded of how difficult this year has been. In this pandemic, friends and loved ones cannot yet gather together in celebration and congregation, and far too many families will sit down for iftar with loved ones missing," he added, referring to the evening meal enjoyed after each daily fast.

"Muslim Americans have enriched our country since our founding. They are as diverse and vibrant as the America they have helped build," he said.

He also acknowledged that Muslims continue to be the target of bigotry and Islamophobia in the US.

"This prejudice and these attacks are wrong. They are unacceptable. And they must stop. No one in America should ever live in fear of expressing his or her faith," Biden said.

The start of Ramadan is set by both lunar calculations and physical sightings that determine when one month ends and another begins.

This year, countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Malaysia and Indonesia announced that Ramadan would begin on Monday evening, with Tuesday being the first day of fasting.

Morocco, India and Iran are among the countries where Muslims will begin fasting on Wednesday due to no positive sighting of the moon.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, the White House this year will host Ramadan-related festivities online.

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