Parker Lauds Houston’s Religious Harmony at Mayor’s Annual Iftar Event

By A Special Correspondent & Irfana Hussain 

HOUSTON: The annual Iftar with the Mayor of Houston was held at the Bayou City Events Center on Saturday, July 12. In attendance were close to 2,000 people from the Houston community. The iftar is dinner that Muslims eat at sunset to finish their day long fast. Muslims around the world fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan, which this year is in the month of July.

The Houston Iftar with the Mayor of Houston was hosted jointly by the Sister City Associations of Abu Dhabi, Baku, Istanbul, and Karachi as well as the Islamic Society of Greater Houston and other collaborating organizations. Over the past decade, this event has become a great showcase of unity and recognition of the Muslims of Houston.

The elected officials in attendance included Congressman Al Green, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, and the Pakistan Consul General Afzal Mahmood. The masters of ceremony were Irfana Hussain and Shah Haleem.

The program began with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an, followed by a welcome address from Ruhi Ozgul, the chairman of the Houston Iftar organizing committee. Muhammad Saeed Sheikh, the coordinator of the iftar thanked the many generous sponsors and volunteers who made the dinner a success. Guests also learned about the significance of Ramadan from Islamic scholars Joe Bradford and Faraz Khan.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker lauded the city for its hardworking individuals and the harmony among the people of different religions and cultures, adding that this distinguished it from other cities in the US. She stressed the need for people of all faiths to come together to solve disputes so that innocent lives could be saved. Parker noted that Houston has expanded tremendously in the past decade and its population has increased enormously. However, she reiterated that it was the city’s commitment to ensure that each and every individual arriving in Houston got equal rights.

 The Mayor thanked all Muslim organizations for helping arrange events like this, including ones that propagate Islamic teachings. She recalled how the Muslim community had always showed unity during natural catastrophes. She noted that the city had passed an ordinance providing its citizens protection from all sorts of discrimination. She pointed out that people of other religions were at the Iftar dinner and said it was a matter of pride for her to witness such a harmonious gathering. She wished Muslims all the best during the holy month of Ramadan and presented appreciation certificates to organizers of the Iftar dinner.

 Parker also stressed that all people deserved equal respect and dignity despite color, creed or religion adding that children arriving from across the border were precious. She condemned killing of people on the basis of belief adding that we needed to strive for peace during Ramadan. She said that society was facing myriad challenges and it was necessary to prove that we are united like one human family.

 Congressman Al Green said that globally, people favored coming to the US and it endeavored to provide security to all to the best of their ability. Prominent businessman and oil tycoon Javaid Anwar complimented Houston for being an oasis of peace where people were free to live according to their beliefs and should be a model for Pakistan where people were being killed for their beliefs. He held that people in USA were prospering living peacefully, while those in Middle East (particularly in Iraq) were cutting each other’s throats. “Women and children are being killed in Pakistan and Palestine”, he lamented.

 Recitation of verses from the Holy Quran proceeded the Iftar dinner. Ruhi Ozgul’s address was followed by a vote of thanks by Masroor Javaid Khan. A Ramadan message by President Barack Obama was also read on the occasion. Saeed Sheikh welcomed the sponsors and guests. Joe Bradford talked about the importance of Ramadan while Faraz Khan spoke about the relationship between Allah and humans. Hashim Badat, President, Islamic Society of Greater Houston, gave a brief talk, and Imam Abdullah Hernandez led the dua while Shahid Ahmed Rizvi, a renowned scholar from Al -Noor Mosque, led the Maghreb prayers.

Afterwards, guests enjoyed a delicious dinner of diverse Pakistani, Turkish, and Greek dishes catered by Tempura Restaurant and later many lined up to meet the Mayor Parker.