An open letter from Ramadan Tent Project Founder and CEO, Omar Salha, about the Open Iftar at Trafalgar Square

On Monday 16 March, more than 3,000 people from all faiths and none gathered at Trafalgar Square for the final Open Iftar of Ramadan 2026. It was a free, public event, welcome to all, and the atmosphere was warm, joyful and deeply inclusive. It reflected the very best of Britain: shared humanity, belonging and community.

Over the past week, however, the event has been subject to unfounded claims and mischaracterisations. I want to address these directly and reaffirm what the Open Iftar stands for.

For over a decade, Ramadan Tent Project has welcomed more than a million people of all faiths and none through our award-winning Ramadan Festival, hosting over 350 Open Iftar events at some of Britain’s most iconic landmarks and institutions. Every partner institution and organisation has embraced our work because it brings people together, builds understanding and strengthens social cohesion. Not once in 13 years has any event been segregated or exclusionary. To suggest otherwise is simply false.

The Trafalgar Square gathering followed the same pattern as every Open Iftar, marked by its hospitality, community spirit, and harmony. A three-hour programme of speeches, arts, poetry, music, conversation and free food then unfolded, culminating in a short prayer of under ten minutes to mark the end of the fast. Thousands chose not to pray. As Emma Best, Deputy Leader of the City Hall Conservatives, publicly noted, claims of “segregation” or “domination” bear no resemblance to what actually took place. Senior figures across political parties, including James Cleverly MP, have echoed this.

This is the same iftar tradition observed every year in Parliament, Downing Street, public squares and civic spaces under successive governments. It is part of British public life.

The Open Iftar event brought together Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and people of no faith. Attendees described it as hopeful, welcoming and transformative, with many experiencing an iftar for the very first time. Faith leaders, including Reverend Richard Carter and the Church of England’s Lead Bishop for Interfaith Engagement, praised it as a powerful expression of friendship and solidarity. Jewish News highlighted it as an example of how public prayer can deepen mutual respect. And as Fraser Nelson observed, it was striking to see Jews and Christians come to stand with Muslims at a moment when unity matters more than ever.

Trafalgar Square has long hosted Diwali, St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah, St. George’s Day, Vaisakhi and more. It is a symbol of our shared British heritage. Hosting an Open Iftar there is a continuation of that proud tradition, a recognition that Muslims, too, are part of the national story.

The overwhelming public response to this year’s Ramadan Festival, its warmth, solidarity, and support from people of all backgrounds, shows what truly matters to fellow citizens across Britain: unity over division, connection over fear, truth over misinformation, hope over hatred.

We are truly grateful and appreciative to everyone who has stood beside us during this period. Our mission remains unchanged: to create spaces where everyone belongs, where strangers become friends, and where community is lived, built and shaped together. When we come together with open hearts and honour each other’s lived experiences, we illuminate the very best of who we are and our shared humanity. That is at the heart of our work at Ramadan Tent Project. That is what makes us ‘Great’ in Great Britain.

Omar Salha
Founder and Chief Executive
Ramadan Tent Project
26 March 2026