Britain’s Big Iftar Breaks Islam Myths
British mosques have organized a nationwide initiative to open their doors to people of all faiths to share iftar during the holy month of Ramadan, offering their neighbors a chance to learn about Islam and forge relationships with the Muslim minority.
"It comes when myth-busting is more important than ever," Baroness Warsi, Minister for Faith and Communities, told The Independent on Sunday, July 28.
"Research earlier this year showed that less than a quarter of people thought Muslims were compatible with the British way of life."
Warsi was speaking during an iftar organized by British Muslims across UK to offer a path to racial harmony.
Dubbing the event “The Big Iftar", British Muslims hoped food can offer a path to racial harmony with the wider community
Warsi was one of the guests who attended the iftar held at the Brent Civic Centre in north-west London last Friday.
Guests gathered around a trestle table laden with rice, noodles, curries, samosas and, in keeping with Iftar tradition, dates and milk.
Similar events have been taking place in scores of community centers, living rooms, parks – even flash mobs – across the country.
Organizers hope the events would help British people see Islam in practice to debunk myths about Islam.
"It's about reaching out," the Big Iftar's founder, Mustafa Field, 32, a project manager from Brent, said.
"Once you get to know your neighbors you start to understand each other's cultures."
These events were urged after the increase of anti-Muslim attacks that followed the murder of Lee Rigby in May.
"It's about getting the message out that there is a nicer side to Islam," said Altaf Choudry, 33.
"A lot of people have been tainted with the wrong brush."
Mark Buckley, 40, a Christian, welcomed the opportunity to engage with another faith.
"Just as Christians need to get out of their church walls, Muslims have to get out of the mosque walls and engage with people in the real world," he said.
The number of anti-Islamic attacks has increased as much as tenfold in the days that followed the Woolwich murder of Drummer Lee Rigby.
Tell Mama project, which monitors anti-Muslim attacks in Britain, has also reported 212 “anti-Muslim incidents” after the Woolwich attack.
The figure included 11 attacks on mosques, in a series manifestation of anti-Muslim sentiments.
Last month, the remains of a home-made explosive device were found on June 22 in an alleyway adjoining the Aisha Mosque and Islamic Centre in Rutter Street.
The earlier incident, in which no one was injured, forced the overnight evacuation of around 150 people from their homes in the surrounding area.
Source: On Islam
"Research earlier this year showed that less than a quarter of people thought Muslims were compatible with the British way of life."
Warsi was speaking during an iftar organized by British Muslims across UK to offer a path to racial harmony.
Dubbing the event “The Big Iftar", British Muslims hoped food can offer a path to racial harmony with the wider community
Warsi was one of the guests who attended the iftar held at the Brent Civic Centre in north-west London last Friday.
Guests gathered around a trestle table laden with rice, noodles, curries, samosas and, in keeping with Iftar tradition, dates and milk.
Similar events have been taking place in scores of community centers, living rooms, parks – even flash mobs – across the country.
Organizers hope the events would help British people see Islam in practice to debunk myths about Islam.
"It's about reaching out," the Big Iftar's founder, Mustafa Field, 32, a project manager from Brent, said.
"Once you get to know your neighbors you start to understand each other's cultures."
These events were urged after the increase of anti-Muslim attacks that followed the murder of Lee Rigby in May.
"It's about getting the message out that there is a nicer side to Islam," said Altaf Choudry, 33.
"A lot of people have been tainted with the wrong brush."
Mark Buckley, 40, a Christian, welcomed the opportunity to engage with another faith.
"Just as Christians need to get out of their church walls, Muslims have to get out of the mosque walls and engage with people in the real world," he said.
The number of anti-Islamic attacks has increased as much as tenfold in the days that followed the Woolwich murder of Drummer Lee Rigby.
Tell Mama project, which monitors anti-Muslim attacks in Britain, has also reported 212 “anti-Muslim incidents” after the Woolwich attack.
The figure included 11 attacks on mosques, in a series manifestation of anti-Muslim sentiments.
Last month, the remains of a home-made explosive device were found on June 22 in an alleyway adjoining the Aisha Mosque and Islamic Centre in Rutter Street.
The earlier incident, in which no one was injured, forced the overnight evacuation of around 150 people from their homes in the surrounding area.
Source: On Islam
