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Rabat – Chelsea will become the first Premier League football club to host the first-ever “Open Iftar,” an initiative that seeks to convene Muslim communities and the squad’s staff to break the fast together during the holy month of Ramadan.
The event will take place on March 26 at Stamford Bridge, the English club announced in a press release, saying: “This will be held as part of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting from before dawn to sunset, which takes place from Wednesday, March 22 March until Friday 21 April.”
The first-ever event, which will take place on a football ground at a Premier League stadium, seeks to convene Muslim communities in the UK to break the fast together “as well as providing a safe space for mutual dialogue and engagement.”
Chelsea said that it will extend invitations to members of local mosques and members of Chelsea Muslim communities, including the club’s supporters and school students.
Chelsea FC staff will also attend the open iftar event, which will take place in collaboration with the award-winning charity Ramadan Tent Project.
Omar Salha, Founder and CEO of the charity, said that the Ramadan Tent Project has “connected and conveyed over half-a-million people from all backgrounds through its annual Ramadan Festival and flagship initiative Open Iftar.”
The CEO expressed satisfaction with the event and collaboration with Chelsea, which is holding the event for the first time.
“Football and Ramadan bring people together over shared experiences and we are thrilled to share this important celebration with football supporters from all backgrounds, representing a community of communities,” he added.
Chelsea’s press release reiterated the club’s commitment to promoting peace, stressing that Ramadan will be “recognized as part of the No To Hate” campaign by both the club and its foundation.
“Promoting religious tolerance is one of No To Hate’s key focus areas, with other religious festivals highlighted throughout the calendar of the year,” the statement added.
Simon Taylor, Head of the Chelsea Foundation, expressed the club’s pride to be the first Premier League team to carry out such a project.
“Recognising Ramadan and our Muslim community is a crucial aspect of our work in promoting religious tolerance and I look forward to welcoming everyone on Sunday 26 March,” he said.
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is a period when Muslims across the world fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food and drink.
According to the British Office for National Statistics, over 3.9 million people are adherents of Islam in the UK.
