MPs, Mike Freer, for Finchley and Golders Green and Theresa Villiers, for Chipping Barnet, were the honoured guests of Nurul Alam at the Islamic Association of North London, on Friday.
Leaders of the North Finchley Mosque invited MPs and esteemed guests including Barnet Borough Police Commander, Adrian Usher, to a private meeting in which they discussed local issues such as schools, planning and parking as well the situation in Syria and Egypt. The gathering also reflected on the meaning and importance of Ramadan and the Eid celebrations.
Speaking after the event, Mike said “The Islamic Association of North London has been an integral part of the local community for over 40 years. Our discussions continue to underline that whatever our religion, wherever we worship, we share the same issues - schools, jobs and crime.”
Theresa added: “I am honoured to have been invited to celebrate Eid and reflect on the meaning of Ramadan with Nurul Alam and his guests. Their hospitality, as always, was warmly received and I wish all of my Muslim constituents Eid Mubarak.”
“This meeting was an important opportunity for Mike and me to catch up with our friends from the North Finchley Mosque and hear their concerns at first hand. I look forward to many more occasions like this.”
Nurul Alam said: "We, at the Islamic Association of North London, have always had good working relationships with our wider community, be they faith based or otherwise. As a result we have contributed to civic society through school visits, serving the local community and in lots of other ways.”
“The Management Committee and Trustees were particularly honoured that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, and Mike Freer MP for Finchley & Golders Green were able to take time out of their very busy schedule to help celebrate Eid with us; to hear what it means to us to fast for a month during Ramadan, dawn to dusk, and share in our experience of celebrating the end of Ramadan. We look forward to building upon this relationship in the future."
Those attending the event with Mike Freer and Theresa Villiers included Mehabub Alam, Haroon Rashid, Elias Hosney, Dr Azimullah Khan, Dr Awan Mumraiz, Dr Pratik Sufi, Rashid Messoudi, Shehu Suleiman, Naughul Durani, Abdul Kader Ellam, Mounir Admi, Rezaul Haque, Walid Shaman.