Turkish community gathers at iftar event in London

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Around 200 people attended a fast-breaking meal Monday for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan organized by a Turkish community in London.

Türkiye's Ambassador to the UK Osman Koray Ertas, Kemal Ergun, head of the Islamic Community Milli Gorus (ICMG), Nasim Ali, the mayor of Camden, and Humaira Garasia, speaker of the London Borough of Hackney, were among the attendees.

After the call to prayer was recited, Muslims broke their fast at the iftar, which was organized by ICMG UK.

Speaking at the event, Ubeyde Bilaloglu, the head of ICMG's UK organization, mentioned the deadly earthquakes that struck Türkiye on Feb. 6 which killed more than 50,000 people.

Thanking all non-governmental organizations, including non-Turkish and non-Muslim NGOs, for their help to fundraise money for the quake-hit victims, he said that ICMG has so far collected €23 million ($25 million).

Touching on the importance of the holy month, he said: "Ramadan is a good time and good opportunity to change. It's a time where we can analyze ourselves."

Noting there are people who are facing many problems around the world, including Palestinians and Ukrainians, he said they will continue to fight for peace and the well-being of people.

Ambassador Ertas meanwhile thanked everyone who took part in organizing the event, saying compared with the Ramadan atmosphere in Türkiye, it is not easy to observe Ramadan abroad.

Also touching on February's earthquakes, he said everyone has made huge efforts to help heal the wounds in the quake-hit areas of Türkiye.

"Hopefully, we will heal all the wounds," he noted, also thanking Ali and Garasia for attending the event.

Sheikh Kazi Luthfur Rahman, the Imam of the Central Mosque in London, made prayer after the iftar.