Our longstanding and much treasured Muslim community by Councillor Bella Sankey

Ramadan Mubarak to all those observing in Brighton and Hove! Last Sunday I was delighted to attend a community Iftar hosted by the Brighton and Hove Multicultural Group, and our Mayor Cllr Mohammed Asaduzzaman, at the Brighton Centre where we joined Muslim community members in breaking their fast. I’m proud to hail from a City which has a longstanding and much treasured Muslim community. From Sake Dean Mohamed’s high profile arrival in the 19th century, to the Muslim soldiers nursed at our Royal Pavilion, to the present day where our population is increasingly diverse and Islam is the second religion of the City and Arabic the most commonly spoken language after English. Food holds a sacred place in every culture, and the Islamic tradition of sharing meals and breaking bread together is a special representation of compassion and unity. It reminds us that, despite our differences, we all share the fundamental human need for nourishment, connection, and community. It was also wonderful to see the Mayor’s charities, including Brighton Housing Trust, Brighton Students Union and My University Hospitals Sussex represented and fundraising to support their beneficiaries with the cost of living.