Muslim community hosts open iftar for British public

By Muhammad Mussa

LONDON (AA) - The Ramadan Tent Project (RTP) held its annual Open Iftar event Wednesday which offered members of the British public a free warm meal as well as a chance to converse with Muslims and non-Muslims from all walks of life.

The project’s founder, Omar Salha, kicked off the event by thanking the guests.

“It is a real pleasure to have you all here with us tonight. It is also an honor to host such an event, one that is able to bring us all together in this holy month of Ramadan.”

Attending the event was Harun Khan, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain.

“It is my first time here at RTP, and I have heard many wonderful stories. They are doing great work. It is a real opportunity for me to be here and to join you guys for iftar tonight. I really hope you enjoy it,” he said.

The Ramadan Tent Project, founded in the UK in 2013, is a social enterprise dedicated to serving the youth and wider community through creating spaces of spirituality, dialogue and empowerment, according to a statement on its website.

RTP began as a community initiative inviting people of all faiths to break their fasts together during the month of Ramadan, the statement said, adding that it “envisages a world in which communities are brought together through the spirit of Ramadan all year round”.

The Open Iftar initiative is a flagship of the Ramadhan Tent Project and is the first global community-led iftar campaign that has hosted similar events for Muslims and non-Muslims alike in seven cities and four continents.

“The iftar provides a great opportunity for us to come together and to know one another,” an attendee told Anadolu Agency. “More than offering a free meal, the iftar allows us to engage with one another, and that is what we need more of.”

The initiative was shortlisted in 2016 as one of the 50 most innovative Global Muslim Startups and has attracted figures from a plethora of professional backgrounds.

The Open Iftar initiative will also be held in cities across the UK such as Bradford, Manchester, Birmingham and Leicester. It has also been featured in Portland in the U.S. and Istanbul, Turkey.