More than 3,000 people gathered in Trafalgar Square on 16 March for one of the final Open Iftar events marking the closing phase of the holy month of Ramadan.
Organised by the Ramadan Tent Project (RTP), the event brought together a diverse crowd from across London, including people of different faiths, backgrounds and communities.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, attended the gathering and described it as “London at its best”.
He said: “Londoners from all faiths, races and backgrounds united in the heart of our capital to break their fasts, honour the values of this holy month and send a message of hope.
“We have tonight, not just the biggest iftar taking place in London, not just the biggest iftar in Europe, not just the biggest iftar in the continent of Europe, but the biggest iftar in the Western world.”
“Together we showed the world that London will always be a city that celebrates and champions our diversity, as we build a better and fairer London for everyone.”
Before delivering his speech, Khan met volunteers from the RTP and spent time greeting attendees, taking photographs and speaking with those gathered in the square.
Other speakers included Paul Dimoldenberg, Lord Mayor of Westminster; Tony Kitous, British-Algerian restaurateur and founder of the Comptoir Libanais chain; Zia Salik, Deputy Director of Islamic Relief; and Omar Salha, Founder and Chief Executive of the Ramadan Tent Project.
Iftar is the meal that marks the end of the daily fast during Ramadan, it took place shortly after sunset.
Imam Qari Hafiz-ul Quran Muhittin Hoca from Aziziye Mosque in North London led the evening prayer, after which guests broke their fast with dates and water.
A notable presence at the event was Little Amal, the 3.5-metre puppet representing a young Syrian refugee girl.
The puppet created for the public art project The Walk, during which she became an international symbol of hope, compassion and awareness of the global refugee crisis.
Now in its 13th year, the RTP has grown from a small community initiative into one of the UK’s most recognisable Ramadan programmes. Its Open Iftar events are designed to bring people together in shared public spaces, encouraging dialogue and understanding between communities.
Organisers said more than one million people attended Open Iftar events across the UK last year. Previous events have been held at major venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the National Gallery.
Image credits: Acacia Diana, Gonca Yagci,
