Hundreds Turnout for County’s Annual Ramadan Iftar Celebration (VIDEOS)
Nearly 400 residents along with local and state officials turned out for an iftar celebration in honor of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan at the County Executive Building in Rockville on June 30th. MyMCMedia’s Maureen Chowdhury reports.
Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett hosted the event along with the Montgomery County Muslim Council and Montgomery County Muslim Foundation.
It’s an event the County started back in 2008, according to Leggett, where Muslims along with residents and officials from all backgrounds gather to meet and break fast with a traditional meal called iftar.
“It’s an opportunity for those throughout our County to come join our Muslim friends and to understand part of their culture, part of their religion and have an opportunity to converse with them and be part of this wonderful celebration,” Leggett said.
Qaisar Shareef, president of the Montgomery County Muslim Council, says the event is a great opportunity to bring everyone in the community together.
“We are very much a part of this community, very much a part of the fabric of this community, and as all other religious communities do, we also go about celebrating our occasions, celebrating our special day,” Shareef said. “We’re very happy being in Montgomery County,” he said.
Leggett presented a proclamation for the month of Ramadan during the event.
Representatives from the Montgomery County Police also honored the department’s first Muslim Chaplain Imam Mohamed Abdullahi with a certificate of appreciation presented by Assistant Chief Luther Reynolds.
Muslims around the world will celebrate the end of Ramadan, known as Eid ul-Fitr, on July 6th.
Montgomery County police recognize the departments first Muslim chaplain. @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/bP0AQmG2Ob
— Maureen Chowdhury (@MediaMaureen) July 1, 2016
County Executive presents Ramadan proclamation. @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/QrmpPB7E5x
— Maureen Chowdhury (@MediaMaureen) July 1, 2016
Dozens of residents, state and local officials have turned out to celebrate. @mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/voHQPkHdch
— Maureen Chowdhury (@MediaMaureen) June 30, 2016
County Executive is hosting a Ramadan Iftar celebration in coordination with County Muslim organizations.@mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/dnulxGp312
— Maureen Chowdhury (@MediaMaureen) June 30, 2016
While everyday the world is turning around on Muslims, it is so refreshing to see such a great, welcoming gesture by our Montgomery County! We are grateful to all making this event and taking the efforts to share this inspiration across the media. Thanks.