Hawzah News Agency-Under the slogan ‘respect and coexistence’, Scotland Yard partnered with Salam Forum and Imam Hussein Holy Shrine in welcoming guests from all backgrounds and religions to an iftar evening held at the premises of New Scotland Yard in London.
Utilizing the spirit of the blessed month of Ramadan, an iftar evening was held to celebrate the holy month by inviting Muslims and various faith leaders from the UK to join in and celebrate with the Muslims their holy month.
The event was targeted to bring in people from different backgrounds together to show solidarity and peaceful coexistence within British communities. It was also sending out a message that people from all faiths, religion and sects live in peace and harmony and categorically reject all acts of violence and extremism.
The introductory speech was delivered by Commander Mak Chishty of the Metropolitan Police, where he welcomed all guests and gave a brief introduction on the purpose of the event. All the guests also observed a one-minute silence in respect to the lives lost against terrorism in the UK and across the world.
The second speaker was the Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball who gave the audience a brief background on the history of the police services and the purpose of the police not only an institute that upholds the law, but also an institute that identifies and celebrates with the communities their festivals and celebrations.
The evening also saw the welcoming of a special guest Maher Sultan, a representative of the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussein, who gave a speech on the current struggle in Iraq and the role the Holy Shrine plays in its guidance by his eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali al-Sistani who urged Iraqis to unite regardless of their sectarian affiliation.
The attendees became acquainted with the various humanitarian efforts to relieve the burden on the displaced people who have suffered under Daesh and have lost their loved ones and homes as a result. In addition to the many humanitarian projects such as the building of hospitals and homes to those families displaced as a result of the war on Daesh.
The event was concluded with an iftar meal, served by Scotland Yard and Salam Forum.
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