The Ramadan Lights switch-on ceremony in the heart of the West End of London on Thursday night 7th March, provided the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan with the perfect opportunity to hit back at a catalogue of Islamophobic slurs levelled at him and the Muslim community by senior Conservative politicians., by celebrating the rich diversity in the Capital.
Speaking on the launch platform on the edges of Leicester Square, in front of a parade of TV cameras and a sizeable gathering of onlookers, he resounded the rich values of the capital’s multicultural population. He said:
‘We’ve had a couple of weeks of people trying to demonise Muslims. Tonight is about celebrating our diversity. Our diversity is a strength not a weakness! Our diversity makes us richer not poorer! Our diversity makes us stronger not weaker! In fact, all of us celebrate the wonderful Christmas lights we have. All of us celebrate Hanukkah with the wonderful Menorah lights we have in Trafalgar Square. All of us celebrate this wonderful, wonderful Ramadan lights – whether you are Muslim, whether you are Christian, whether you are Jewish, whether you are Hindu, whether you are a Sikh, whether you are from a recognised faith or not, whether you are rich, whether you are poor, whether you are from London or from Birmingham, you are welcome to celebrate these great lights of Ramadan. For those of you who don’t fast during the month of Ramadan, this month is really important to Muslims who fast, who pray, give money to charity. At the end of the month, they celebrate the festival of Eid. So thank you for being here tonight – a special night for all Londoners because we come together tonight – Muslims and non-Muslims this wonderful beginning of the great month of Ramadan’
Khan, was joined for the official pressing of the golden buzzer which switches on the lights, by Aisha Desai, the founder of Ramadan Lights UK, who had begun the Ramadan Lights project in North London, four years ago. With the help of the Aziz Foundation she was able to take the event into the heart of London’s West End for its debut in 2023 and now expects it to be an annual event. Dignitaries in attendance included the former first Muslim Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Hamza Taouzzale and Asif Aziz, the founder of the Aziz Foundation.
