Leeds’ Civic Hall opened its doors to the spirit of Ramadan this week, as civic leaders, faith representatives and community guests gathered for a special Iftar hosted by the city’s Lord Mayor.
Held in the Banqueting Suite on Wednesday 5th March, the event marked one of only a handful of civic Iftars ever hosted at Civic Hall – a growing tradition that reflects Leeds’ diverse communities and shared commitment to dialogue and understanding.
The evening was hosted by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Dan Cohen, and attended by the Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor James Lewis, alongside a range of community and faith leaders including Imam Qari Asim MBE, the Bishop of Kirkstall, Reverend Arun Arora, and the Lord Mayor’s chaplain, Rabbi Anthony Gilbert.
Among the guests were HM Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Professor Adeeba Malik CBE, the Children’s Mayor of Leeds, Sienna Silva-Farber, and representatives from across the city’s multi-faith community.
The gathering also raised awareness for the Lord Mayor’s chosen charity, Leeds Mencap.
As the sun set, Imam Qari Asim MBE of Makkah Mosque led the call to prayer, marking the moment Muslims break their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan. In keeping with tradition, guests began the evening with dates and water before sharing a buffet meal together.
The civic Iftar also recognised the dedication of foster carers working with Muslim children across the city. A group of carers from Foster4Leeds were invited by the Lord Mayor in acknowledgement of their work supporting young people and families.
Proceedings were led by Councillor Asghar Khan, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, customer services and community safety, who served as master of ceremonies, supported by Councillor Abdul Hannan. Speakers included the Children’s Mayor, Sienna Silva-Farber, Professor Adeeba Malik CBE, and Councillor James Lewis.
Councillor Dan Cohen said the event had quickly become a meaningful civic tradition.
“The civic Iftar meal, which is quickly becoming a fantastic tradition here in Leeds, is an opportunity to bring together all the communities the office of the Lord Mayor represents around our city, and build harmony, trust, and understanding between our cultures,” he said.
“The holy month of Ramadan is not only a time of abstinence. It is a time of reflection, of coming together and of charity. I hope that by sharing this meal, we brought our multi-faith communities in Leeds a little closer and built on our understanding of each other.”
Councillor James Lewis said the occasion also served as an opportunity to reaffirm the city’s stance against discrimination.
“It is always an honour to attend the civic Iftar and take the opportunity to underline the Council’s full commitment to doing all we can to tackle discrimination of all types, including anti-Muslim prejudice in Leeds,” he said.
“This includes our adoption in 2022 of the Anti-Muslim Prejudice definition as something that is direct or indirect hatred and discrimination against anyone of Islamic faith on grounds of their belief and practice.
“We undertake regular engagement work with various groups in communities across Leeds, and we run awareness raising campaigns on how to report Islamophobic hate and the support available to victims, as well as highlighting the many positive contributions British Muslims make every day to life in Leeds.”
