Mayor of West Midlands attends Open Iftar

On Thursday 7 April 2022 (6 pm) at St Chad’s Cathedral, the Mayor of West Midlands, Andy Street came together with Islamic Relief UK and the Ramadan Tent Project in one of the first in-person Ramadan Open Iftars (fast break) since the onset of the pandemic. The money raised from the event will go towards efforts to tackle global hunger by providing meals to vulnerable families across the world.

Photos and video can be found here

The event was also attended by Councillor Mariam Khan, Islamic Relief CEO, Waseem Ahmad and Islamic Relief UK Director, Tufail Hussain.

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims abstain from food and water from dawn to sunset. It is within the month of Ramadan that the Holy Qur’an was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have meant that Open Iftar events have been online for the past two years. This year’s Open Iftar was very different as people saw each other in person with engaging speeches, bridge-building, free food, stalls, spiritual reflection and prayers.

Open Iftar events are the flagship initiative of the Ramadan Tent Project, a community institution developing the knowledge, understanding and experience of Ramadan and fasting for all. Events will be taking place across the country during the holy month and proceeds from the open iftar will go towards providing much-needed food to people across the world. Help Us Unite & Feed Humanity This Ramadan | LaunchGood

“I was so pleased to be a part of the wonderful Open Iftar, an inspirational event with people from all walks of life and backgrounds coming together with the Muslim community at this special time, as they celebrate Ramadan and break their fasts in the evening. “After two years of online events, I really enjoyed the warmth of sharing a meal together and interacting with people at this special time for Muslims in the West Midlands across the UK and around the world.”

Omar Salha, Founder and CEO of Ramadan Tent Project said:

“We’re delighted to be working with Islamic Relief UK for this year’s Open Iftar events as part of Ramadan Tent Project’s Ramadan Festival 2022. “After two difficult years amid the Covid-19 pandemic, we are delighted to once again facilitate a warm, open, inclusive and engaging environment in person where people can enjoy wholesome food, conversations and community engagement, and to also come together to support the great work Islamic Relief UK is doing around the world and in the UK to tackle food scarcity. “In light of the rise of the cost of living and the number of Muslims in the UK who are facing poverty and food shortages, we are more pleased than ever to come together to host these events for our communities across the UK.”

“We thank Mayor of West Midlands, Andy Street and Councillor Mariam Khan for taking part in this very special occasion. “This year’s Ramadan Tent Project Open Iftar was particularly uplifting as we got to see people after two years of online events. This is a great initiative that brings communities together and builds a greater understanding of the holy month of Ramadan. “It was also special to be in Birmingham for the iftar as this is the home of Islamic Relief, and this community continues to be a great hope and inspiration; always reaching out to help others in need.”

Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired, development and humanitarian agency working to transform and save the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in over 40 countries. Islamic Relief assists people according to need and does not discriminate in any way.

Set up in Birmingham in 1984 by a group of volunteers, we have assisted over 117 million people all over the world. We’re saving lives and empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty in over 40 countries – from Bangladesh to Bosnia, Pakistan to Palestine, Kenya to Kosovo. Islamic Relief is on the ground in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places – including Syria and Yemen – strengthening the most marginalised communities to withstand conflict and natural disasters and to build a brighter future. We also support vulnerable people in the UK in partnership with local charities and organisations.

Ramadan Tent Project is a non-profit organisation founded in 2013. Their Open Iftar project which supported 70,000 people virtually last year, has welcomed well over one-hundred thousand people across 13 cities and 4 continents since its inception in 2013. As part of our Ramadan Festival series, the Open Iftar events are the flagship initiative of Ramadan Tent Project, a community institution developing the knowledge, understanding and experience of Ramadan & fasting for all.

Since 2013, Open Iftar has been inviting people from all walks of life, different faith backgrounds and none, to come together to break fast, share food & engage in inspiring conversations. Open Iftar bridges communities; it is a space in which our commonalities are highlighted, our differences celebrated and human connection is forged. Invitation is free and open to all.