Virginia’s newly sworn-in Lieutenant Governor, Ghazala Hashmi, addressed a crowd of community members at a Ramadan iftar on Saturday at a Belmont Country Club residence in Ashburn. She urged unity and inclusion, saying that, in the first week of Ramadan, American Muslims “will not be defined by fear or exclusion.” As the first Muslim woman elected to statewide office in U.S. history, Hashmi used the occasion to share her own story. She spoke of her experiences as an immigrant and longtime college professor who has become a trailblazing political leader. She reaffirmed that faith and public service can go hand in hand.
As Hashmi told the iftar audience about her experience during the lieutenant governor campaign, she said that her distinction as the first Muslim woman lieutenant governor was “not because of me” but a testament to Virginia’s inclusiveness. She said, “Virginia is a place that is changing, it is inclusive. It was once the capital of the Confederacy, but now it does not care about race or religion. Muslims also have the right to speak about our faith and values, and every community feels represented here.”
‘Virginia is a place that is changing, it is inclusive. It was once the capital of the Confederacy, but now it does not care about race or religion.’
Hashmi wove her personal narrative into the values of Ramadan. Organizers from the Pakistani American Press Association introduced her as “the 43rd Lieutenant Governor of Virginia” who had journeyed into politics from a life in academia. Hashmi greeted the Muslim gathering with a warm “Ramadan Mubarak” and thanked her hosts for their hospitality. She spoke frankly about the obstacles she had faced, both running against the status quo and being a minority in politics, and about how her faith guided her commitment to compassion and community service.
Attendees said Hashmi’s message resonated deeply. Community leader Ghulam Nabi Fai said that her rise to office was “an inspiration for all.” Pakistan’s Ambassador to the U.S., Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, praised Hashmi as “the living example” of what can be achieved by refusing to retreat in the face of obstacles. He called her achievement “a great accomplishment, but not the end, it is the beginning,” urging others to follow her path into political and economic life.
In closing, Hashmi emphasized visibility and representation. She noted that seeing a Muslim woman in high office should give hope to all communities often marginalized in public life. By sharing both her faith and her values in government, she said she hopes to ensure that every community in Virginia feels “reflected, like they have a voice.”
Hashmi’s address at the iftar was part of a broader theme this Ramadan: American Muslims not only fast and pray in community but also step forward to lead in the civic sphere. The new year of Ramadan is being marked “with the familiar quiet of fasting and prayer, accompanied by a clear message: American Muslims will not be defined by fear or exclusion.” In Ashburn and beyond, Ghazala Hashmi’s story is now part of that message of hope and inclusion.
The writer is a PhD candidate with a research focus on Artificial Intelligence-enabled leadership, blending academic insight with real-world industry practice.