Obama urges Americans to not isolate Muslim neighbors

By Esra Kaymak Avci

WASHINGTON (AA) – President Barack Obama on Thursday encouraged citizens to not discriminate against their fellow Muslim Americans and make them feel as if they are "second-class citizens.

"Let’s be clear: Muslim Americans are as patriotic, as integrated, as American as any other member of the American family," Obama said during an Eid al-Fitr reception at the White House.

Eid al-Fitr is a celebration marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims.

"Discriminating against Muslim Americans is also an affront to the very values that already make our nation great," he said.

The president told young American Muslims in the audience that the U.S. sees them and believes in them.

"Despite what you may sometimes hear, you’ve got to know you’re a valued part of the American family and there is nothing you cannot do," Obama said.

The president also stressed that Muslims should be considered as allies in the fight against groups such as Daesh.

"Singling out Muslim Americans feeds the lie of terrorists like ISIS that the West is somehow at war with a religion that includes over a billion adherents," he said. "That’s not smart national security."

Only a few hours after the president made the comments, Donald Trump officially accepted the Republican Party's presidential nomination.

Trump’s campaign has notably featured anti-Muslim rhetoric, including when he infamously demanded the U.S. ban Muslims from entering the U.S. following deadly terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California.