Post by Lauren Amdor

It was wonderful to celebrate Ramadan last night at the joint Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Lancaster House Iftar and break the fast alongside the Muslim community, colleagues from National Inter Faith Week and those from all faith backgrounds supporting religious and social cohesion work across the UK in communities and the government alike. Especially as we see a sixth day of violence unfold in Iran and across the region, it was moving to be in such a full room of those still committed to coming together against polarisation and religious-based hatred, and to hear directly from Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP (Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government), Hamish Falconer MP (Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan) and Miatta Fahnbulleh (Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities) on the increasing importance of doing so. As they mentioned, Ramadan, Lent, Holi and Purim all overlapping is a strong reminder that there is more that unites us than divides us. I hope that in the remaining weeks of Ramadan, this being a time of peace and reflection, we see progress towards international peace and the end of all violence. And above all, Ramadan Mubarak to all those observing!