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Ramadan: Chief constable joins city mosque's Iftar

Shariqua Ahmed
BBC News, Peterborough
Submitted A head-and-shoulders picture of Abdul Choudhuri. He has grey hair and a white beard and is wearing a shirt and tie.Submitted
Abdul Choudhuri has been hosting the community Iftar on behalf of the Joint Mosques Council for the past eight years

A chief constable and a council chief executive joined a city mosque as it hosted a community Iftar - an evening meal that breaks the Ramadan fast.

Peterborough's Joint Mosques Council (JMC) held the event on Thursday at the Salahaddin Community Centre in Woodston.

Among those who attended were Nick Dean, the Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire, and Matt Gladstone, Chief Executive of Peterborough City Council.

Abdul Choudhuri, JMC chairman, said the community was keen to "work together with all the public organisations to help improve inter-faith dialogue and community cohesion".

'Positive light'

The holy month of Ramadan sees Muslims fast and refrain from eating or drinking between dawn and sunset.

Mr Choudhuri said the Muslim community "welcomes the support and solidarity shown by the police and the council" and he said he hoped to build on it.

Representatives from the city's schools, university and the NHS were also at the Iftar. Some attendees of different faiths also observed the Ramadan fast.

Mr Choudhuri added: "It is also not just about sharing a meal, but to understand and reflect on the significance of Ramadan.

"The community is still concerned about the safety as a consequence of events that previously have taken place around the country.

"But tensions have definitely calmed down a lot and we pray that things don't get as bad again.

"And events like these help to shed a positive light."

Abdul Choudhuri Three smartly dressed men sit at a table with food on it in a mosque. A fourth man, on the right, is standing up making a speech.Abdul Choudhuri
At the Iftar were, from left to right, Nick Dean, the Chief Constable, Abdul Choudhuri, Adrian Chapman, an executive director at Peterborough City Council, and city council Chief Executive Matt Gladstone

'Invaluable experience'

Mr Dean said: "It was a wonderful opportunity for us to visit the centre during this special time and indeed to experience fasting even if only for one day.

"We have a really positive relationship with all the Mosques across the county and events like this give everyone the chance to come together, strengthen our understanding and deepen that relationship further."

Mr Gladstone, said "working collaboratively is key".

He added: "This experience is invaluable for appreciating and understanding the opportunities and challenges facing our city.

"Abstinence from food and water during the day does help us to recognise that some people in the world do not have the most basic essentials in life."

Salahaddin Community Centre The inside of the Salahaddin Community Centre mosque. The area shown is empty. Blue patterned carpets stretch from wall to wall. At one side of the room there are arches. There are lights in the ceiling.Salahaddin Community Centre
The carpeted interior of the Salahaddin Community Centre in Woodston

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