Eid Charity Community Dinner 2019

Testimonial – Trustee Of Lewisham Islamic Centre

A few weeks late but I wanted to praise the Waltham Forest Council of Mosques, WFCOM with respect to the Eid Dinner they organised. It was an amazing show of strength and maturity from the Muslims in Waltham Forest. It was full of non-Muslims from the faith groups, councillors, MPs and the police, as well as Muslims from the local area and beyond. What was clear to me from this event was that WFCOM engage with all parties on their terms, and from a position of #confidence without having an inferiority complex.

They showcased all the great work they have done over the years and whilst they discussed some of great work they have done jointly with other faith groups and where they have shouldered their civil responsibility, they were not afraid to discuss those works that they had undertaken in support of the Muslim cause such as the raising of funds for the Muslims of #Syria; the successful campaign they led against Veolia in the council as part of their boycott campaign against Israel; their work in campaigning against the Islamophobic #PREVENT policy; the recent work regarding Relationship & Sex Education (#RSE) in Schools. Even the nasheed a young boy beautifully sang, ‘Be Like Muhammad’ further showed the sense of joy and #proudness of being a Muslim.

This was a gathering where Muslims were unapologetically Muslim, engaging on our terms without the all too familiar ones where the local civil representatives praise the organisation for being a moderate voice etc.

I truly hope that other areas, particularly those with a sizeable Muslim population will also become a beacon of #activism for the Muslim cause and to do so openly without fear.

I pray Allah continues to strengthen and blesses all those involved with WFCOM.