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More than 500 people of different faiths and cultures celebrate the breaking of the fast in the month of Ramadan together in a festive and sophisticated atmosphere
Representatives of the main religions and social platforms solemnly proclaim the 'Valencia Declaration on Concord' with the participation of institutions and parties
Valencia becomes the first European capital to celebrate an Iftar of Concord in such an emblematic public space
More than 500 people of different cultures and beliefs participated on March 31 in the first Iftar de la Concordia in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, the first to be held in such an emblematic and central space of a large European city. With this act, which coincided with the beginning of Christian Holy Week and Jewish Easter, Valencia professed intercultural coexistence and positioned itself on the map of cities against Islamophobia, an expression of racist hatred that has skyrocketed in the last five years. Europe and increased by 20% in the Spanish digital environment in 2022 alone.
The Iftar de la Concordia, organised by the Jovesólides Association, Casa Morocco and the Islamic Cultural Centre of Valencia, was attended by representatives of various Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and atheist communities, as well as the institutions that bring together social and associative movements of the Valencian community, such as the Valencian Coordinator of the ONGD and the Volunteer Platform.
Together they have promulgated the 'Declaration of Valencia for Concord' to claim cultural diversity and express the 'unequivocal will to solemnly and resolutely proclaim the absolute rejection of Islamophobia in any express or implicit form. We reject the slightest trace of fanaticism, be it cultural, political or religious, wherever it comes from.' In this spirit of harmony, the manifesto also calls on 'the entire Spanish and European political class to begin a sincere dialogue and make every effort to create a socio-political scenario that will allow for the immediate cessation of any kind of intercultural hostility. We are all responsible for this society we are building. We must be able to sit together as brothers and sisters and build bridges of intercultural dialogue to overcome all differences'.
The Iftar de la Concordia has been celebrated in a festive, vindictive atmosphere and of great intercultural respect. Participants shared with the Muslim community the ceremony of breaking the fast with typical food such as dates, harira, falafel, harcha, chebayika, cous-cous, tea and homemade sweets. They also enjoyed together the performance of the Grupo Andaluz Isawa of Sufi music, could tattoo themselves with henna and got their name in Arabic calligraphy.
Streaming broadcast of the first Iftar de la Concordia in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento de València.
The main Valencian institutions were present at the event. The Mayor of Valencia, Joan Ribó, and the Councillor for Equality, Lucía Beamud, the Regional Secretary for Diversity Equality, Rubén Sancho, representing the Vice-President for Equality and Inclusive Policies, and the Director General for Institutional Representation, Jorge Alarte, on behalf of the Presidency of the Generalitat. Political authorities from the PSPV-PSOE, Compromís, Partido Popular, Ciudadanos and Esquerra Republicana del País Valencià also attended.
More than 60 people worked as volunteers in the areas of management, organisation, logistics, assembly, design, decoration and communication.
You can follow all the news about this project on social networks through the hashtag #MaiMésIslamofòbia.
