Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson joined the Bronx Muslim community on Thursday, March 14, in the Rotunda of Bronx Borough Hall for her annual Bronx Iftar Dinner Dialogue to mark the holy month of Ramadan, a time for fasting, prayer, and acts of kindness, which this year started on March 12 and concludes on April 9.

 

Iftar is the meal eaten by Muslims to break their fast after sunset every day during Ramadan. According to the Spirit of Islam website, “Iftar is a source of spiritual learning. It is the moment when physical food is converted into spiritual food.”

 

Over 200 guests gathered for the evening’s dinner and discussion, which according to Gison’s office, centered on “ways to engage the Bronx’s diverse Muslim community.” The event was held in conjunction with NYC Votes, Metroplus Health, ICNA Relief, the African Advisory Council, Fouta Halal Restaurants, Muslim advocates, faith leaders, and community partners.

 

Gibson said of the event, “I want to thank all of our honorees and everyone who played a role in making this event a success. We are proud to be home to one of our country’s largest and most diverse Muslim communities and appreciate their invaluable contributions to our borough.”

 

Yahay Obeid, originally from Yemen, a current resident of Little Yemen and who is both the executive director of the Bronx Islamic Center and, by day, an air traffic controller at John F. Kennedy International Airport, served as emcee for the celebration, and was also honored by the borough president at the event.

 

Obeid estimates the Bronx Muslim population at well over 250,000, which includes a large Bengali community in Norwood. The North Bronx Islamic Center is located at 261 East 206th Street in Norwood and last year, one member of the Muslim community explained to us that sometimes, members prayed collectively in the Williamsbridge Oval park on Muslim holidays as the center is not big enough to hold everyone for such occasions.

 

The event was held ahead of the April 2 presidential primaries in New York State. SeQuoia King, outreach manager with NYC Votes, said in part that every New Yorker, no matter where they’re from or what language they speak should be able to engage meaningfully in our local democracy.

 

“During Ramadan, a season of community and collective care, NYC Votes is honored to partner with the Bronx Borough President’s Office to provide education about upcoming elections and help members of the Community Iftar get registered to vote,” she said.  The more New Yorkers who make their voices heard at the ballot box, the closer we can get to just and truly representative democracy.”

 

U.S. President Joe Biden won the Democratic Primary and former U.S. President Donald Trump, currently besieged by several litigations, won the Republican primary.

 

Also in attendance were Jumaane Williams, New York City public advocate, Sidiki Donzo, chair of the Bronx borough president`s African Advisory Council, and NYPD Detective Mohamed Amen of the NYPD’s Clergy Outreach Unit, who provided remarks along with other prominent community leaders in attendance.

 

Recently elected West Harlem City Council Member Yusef Salaam (C.D. 9), also one of the Central Park 5, served as the keynote speaker. The Central Park 5 were wrongly convicted of raping a woman in Central Park in Manhattan in 1989. Film director Ava du Vernay’s 2019 Netflix mini-series, “When They See Us” is a dramatization of their story.

 

Others honored by the borough president on the night were Zara Kandic, a volunteer with “Collective Work of Sisters;” Selma Mujovic, teacher and secretary at the Bosniak Islamic Center and director of “Collective Work of Sisters;” Gbenga Subair, founding member of New York City Mayor Eric Adam’s NYC African Council and a member of Bronx Community Board 12’s economic committee, and Ramatu Ahmed, founder and executive director of the African Life Center.

Asked for his feedback on the event, Norwood resident (by Perry Avenue) and Bronx Community Board 7 board member, Monjur Chowdhury told Norwood News he appreciated the Bronx borough president’s office’s efforts to connect with him and with the Muslim community all year around. Of the Iftar celebration, he said, “This year it was a little different; it was better than other years, so that was good,” Asked in what way, he said, “Not different but decoration was different and different people announced; nothing else so that was good.”

 

After a New York State Appeals Court ruled that a law allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections was ruled unconstitutional in February, a coalition of elected officials, voters, and advocates came together to support an appeal of the ruling on the steps of City Hall on March 25. Local Law 11 (or Our City, Our Vote) was enacted in 2022 by the New York City Mayor and City Council. Advocates of the law said it enshrined the rights of nearly one million New Yorkers to have a say in decisions about the communities in which they live, work and raise their families. Click here to read some previous coverage on this topic.