LONDON - This year, Britain's Muslim minority enjoys collective and open iftars in public places that have never been opened to Muslim communities to organize Ramadan events and raise the call to prayer inside them, including libraries, museums, churches and old palaces, a first of its kind around the world.

No Western country has recorded the same momentum that Britain has witnessed, from organizing Ramadan iftars in historic and symbolic places, starting with the British parliament, in which the call to prayer was raised for the first time, through the British library, to a number of historical museums in London, churches as well as football stadiums.

Hardly a day of Ramadan is without the circulation of a number of pictures and clips of Muslims and non-Muslims breaking their fast in a famous place in Britain after the call to prayer.

This popular celebration of the month of Ramadan in the public space in Britain, was also expected to be accompanied by a move from the most important figure in the country, King Charles III, who is known for his wide knowledge of Islam and his friendship with a number of representatives of the Muslim community when he was crown prince, especially since this is the first Ramadan after his accession to the throne of his country, and as the holy month approaches its end, no activity of the king or his statement related to this occasion has been recorded.

"Preoccupation with the inauguration"

Months after Charles III came to the throne of the United Kingdom, a number of observers noticed a change in his movements and statements compared to his tenure.

This was also evident even in his handling of congratulating Muslims in the month of Ramadan, as he only posted a picture on the official account of the British royal family to congratulate Muslims on the occasion of this month, unlike what he did in previous periods when he was crown prince.

Two years ago, King Charles III, then Crown Prince, recorded a video speech on the occasion of the month of Ramadan, in which he congratulated the Muslims of Britain and the world, and spoke about the values of the month of Ramadan, as well as to praise the effective role played by Muslims and mosques in Britain to help those in need during the Corona pandemic.

During the reign of his late mother, King Elizabeth II, had never recorded a speech on any religious occasion except her famous Christmas speech, and this seems to be the custom followed by King Charles III.

All the king's current moves and the efforts of the royal court are focused these days on the arrangements for the inauguration ceremony scheduled for the sixth of next May, which all expectations say will be a historic ceremony.

Ramadan Mubarak to everyone in the UK and around the world observing the holy month of #Ramadan ☪️ pic.twitter.com/74B3ibavMp

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) March 22, 2023

Faded congratulations from Sunak

If the custom required King Charles III to abide by what his mother was, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak did the opposite, and did not apply a custom that preceded him by his predecessor, Boris Johnson, who, despite his racist comments about women wearing the niqab, was keen to record a speech congratulating Muslims by the month of Ramadan with the words "Ramadan Mubarak."

On the other hand, the current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak only posted a tweet to congratulate the month of Ramadan at the expense of the Prime Minister, not his personal account, knowing that he had previously posted a video clip congratulating members of the Indian Tamil community on the feast of "Pongal", which is considered the great Indian "Thanksgiving" Day.

It was noteworthy that Prime Minister Sunak did not participate in any of the iftars organized throughout the month of Ramadan, nor did he register during his term of office to attend or organize an event for the Muslim minority in Britain.

The Muslim mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, remains faithful to a habit he has been following since taking office, which is to attend an open iftar organized in Treflagar Square in central London, as well as to organize an open party to mark the holiday.

The call to prayer at Wembley 🤲
Stadium after the #تشيلسي #برايتون and #أستون_فيلا stadiums came the turn of the National Stadium of the England #ويمبلي team to host the Ramadan tent event and a collective breakfast sponsored by the English Football 🔝 Association #Ramadan #ramadan #wembley #OpenIftar pic.twitter.com/8Nc7JaP0OD

— Ibrahim Khadra (@IbrahimKhadra) April 15, 2023

Breakfasts everywhere

The Ramadan Ramadan tent project is behind the organization of the "Open Iftar" in a number of famous places in the capital, especially London, all of which are historical places, such as the British Library, the Museum of "Victoria and Albert", the famous hall square "Royal Albert", in addition to the stadium of the English club Chelsea "Stamford Bridge".

These activities received a large media following inside and outside Britain, and the idea spread to other cities, where churches are also opening the door for Muslims to organize iftar, raise the call to prayer and share iftar between Muslims and non-Muslims.