The UN Refugee Agency holds first Iftar interfaith evening in South Africa in support of refugees
With support from the private sector, special Iftar meal takes place in Pretoria to show solidarity for families displaced from their homes.
The UN Refugee Agency first Iftar evening in Pretoria South Africa © L. Chemany
Pretoria, South Africa - On 7 June 2018, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR hosted its first interfaith Iftar evening as part of the agency’s global Ramadan campaign, Hand in Hand, to shine a spotlight on refugees during the holy month.
Welcoming members of the Islamic diplomatic corps, the South African Muslim community and government officials, Officer in Charge of the UNHCR’s Regional Office for Southern Africa, Ms. Veronica Modey-Ebi said, “this event symbolizes, that despite our different nationalities, irrespective of our religion we are all here to represent the community of humanity.”
On behalf of UNHCR, she also thanked countries represented by the diplomatic corps for hosting refugees and for supporting UNHCR programmes.
Speakers included the Turkish Ambassador to South Africa, Elif Çomoğlu Ülgen. She explained that the month of Ramadan is a time when we are willing to share and the dinner is a great approach towards tolerance.
“While we are enjoying this lovely dinner, there are human beings around the globe not so far away, who are really suffering. Turkey is currently hosting 3.5 million refugees mostly from Syria and Iraq. This has really never been a matter of political debate and this is something we are very much proud of, because the alternative of not hosting them was to let them perish, the children the women the elderly, the men. That’s why I’m grateful to my government and people who are voluntarily taking this not as a burden, but as a duty. Not only as a duty of Islam but a duty of humanity.”
There was a great appreciation from the Islamic diplomatic corps and the SA Muslim community for the evening with many stating this is the first time they have seen a UN agency hold an Iftar in South Africa.
UNHCR High Level Influencer Tresor Riziki greets UNHCR's Officer in Charge, Veronica Modey-Ebi while the Ambassador from Turkey, Elif Çomoğlu Ülgen looks on. © L. Chemany
Tresor Riziki, musician, artist, winner of the 2018 South African Music Awards Pop Album of the year and former refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo shared his story of flight from his homeland. “We are hoping to change the narrative of the refugee. Refugees are not people who come to take but they can also give,” he highlighted.
The Iftar evening was held in cooperation with BluBlood South Africa. Shaista Khan Osman, CEO said, “It is our honor to partner with UNHCR on their first ever Iftar. On behalf of the Islamic and Muslim community to have an event of this stature to be held on South African soil, we are grateful to be a part of it. To have all of these representatives from across the world coming together for one meal, Iftar, signifying we are here today in support of refugees displaced all across the globe is significant.”
Some attendees at the first UNHCR Iftar evening in Pretoria, South Africa. From left to right: Osman Osman - Managing Director, BluBlood South Africa Ilija Todorovic -UNHCR, Adan Ilmi - UNHCR, Shaaista Osman Khan - CEO, BluBlood South Africa, Elif Çomoğlu Ülgen - Ambassador of Turkey, Mohamed Saleem Aziz Joosub - CEO, Capitalfin Shameel Joosub - CEO, Vodacom © L. Chemany
The holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to conclude on Thursday with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, is traditionally a time for reflection and gathering among families and communities across the Muslim world, as well as for acts of solidarity and generosity.
To learn more about UNHCR’s Ramadan campaign, see here.