Ladies and gentlemen, People of Stavanger and all attendees:
Asalam Oulaykum, Ramadan Mubarak,
It’s a big honor for me to be invited by the organization to celebrate the opening of the first edition of Ramadan Festival in Norway.
I am proud to be here today sharing my happiness and respect to all of you. All the way from Holland to share this beautiful experience in the European Capital of Culture: Stavanger.
Born in a world where Ramadan month was normal but an amazing experience. It’s Not only breaking fasting but breaking the routine of the whole year.
Ramadan was not only a part of religion but also a very respectful tradition. Ramadan was the month of lessons to learn and bring in practice the next coming year.
Ramadan is a month of praising Allah, taking care of the poor and looking after your neighbors. We start with our neighbors, who are not Muslim. Share thoughts, food but most important respect, love and being generous to each other. My parents and my whole environment taught me to share these thoughts others and not to be selfish and most important to those who you don’t know.
So Ramadan Festival was an initiative to get closer to anybody you come across and you’re dealing with everyday.
Three years ago (in 2005) I was in the United States, when I was invited by a Christian family for a hospitality dinner. This family made a show of the food (hallal). I was welcomed like a prince and I enjoyed my stay and the meal of course. There was a lively debate. And sitting at that table I realized: “This is the ultimate sign of respect for me”
I decided there and then that I wanted to do this in my home country.
A festival where people of all religious beliefs - Muslims, Christians, Jews, and atheists – come together. It gives us the chance to talk with each other and show something of ourselves to the other. Emulate topics of life, and examine together where we substantially differ from each other. And where we know (sometimes obvious, sometimes unexpected) where we connect.
I am proud to see the Ramadan Festival vision and idea spreading around the world and sharing peace and respect with each other.
In London, it was launched last year
In Lausanne in Switzerland, there has been the largest hospitality dinner, and this year they own their own Ramadan Festival
In Belgium, we launched it last year in more than 7 cities and still leaning on the Dutch model...
In Warsaw I am starting the first Ramadan Festival this year..
These are not only iftars but it’s more than a vision to bring people closer to each other in harmony and respect.
It’s a beautiful moment to own a piece of this festival by inviting each other on the dinner table. Muslims and Non-Muslims is your challenge today. Your attendance and participation to this festival is so crucial to reaching our goal.
Let me emphasize: This festival is not a religious festival but it is meant to be a social cohesion festival.
As we are a big part of this community, everybody should own a piece of this festival. Not only the Islamic institutions but also the students, schools, universities, foundation and labor market.
It’s up to each of us to make sure that this festival brings change in our relations in order to live in harmony and respect. And none of us can do it alone.
Thank you International House Foundation for taking the initiative to start this in the capital of culture of Europe. I know how difficult it is to convince people to get closer to each other and believe in something unknown and innovative. We went through that experience in Holland but I can assure you that now it’s becoming a beautiful part of the Dutch culture. You believe against the odds, that change was possible. I feel your passion today and I know it was shared by many Stavanger people who believe in this initiative all across the country.
Thank you the city of Stavanger with its rulers, the mayor and the council of Stavanger. Stavanger people for the time you share and being interested in each other’s cultures. Thanks to the efforts volunteers, who made this possible. Thanks to The Norwegians who are taking the efforts to share this with Muslims.
For more information about Ramadan Festival Stavanger | Norway
www.ramadanfestival.no
