WFWP UK BIRMINGHAM - Big Iftar at the Al Mahdi Institute

On Saturday March 29th, together with the Al Mahdi Institute, we helped to organise a Big Iftar for

the end of Ramadan, with the theme ‘The Human Family : Beyond Race and religion’. We were able

to invite many of our interfaith friends, as well as all the guest speakers, and altogether around 250

people attended the event.

Patricia spoke about her Women’s Peace Group and the role of women in peace-building. Then Cllr

Shahin Ashraf, MBE, Mayor of Solihull, spoke passionately about justice, and how we should treat

each other fairly, if we are truly one family. This was followed by speakers from our different faith

traditions, concluding with Sheikh Arif, the Institute’s Director, talking about our universality beyond

religion, as one family of humanity.

When the time came to break the fast, it was such a joy to see everyone mixing together, young and

old, from all faiths, ethnicities and cultures, and different social backgrounds, really exemplifying our

evening together. The Institute has really become a place of welcome for all, and we look forward to

many more such events in the future.