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UK Government ministers hail new IR partnership and praise generosity of Muslim community at VIP iftar dinner

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UK Government ministers have praised the work of Islamic Relief and the generosity of the Muslim community at a VIP dinner jointly hosted by the charity and the UK Foreign Office on July 26 to celebrate Ramadan.

The iftar dinner was attended by over 200 people, including UK ministers and civil servants; the Prime Minister of Palestine and politicians, diplomats and Olympic delegations from 15 other countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East; high-profile personalities and academics; prominent interfaith figures; and senior representatives of over 40 Muslim community and international aid organisations.

Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development, announced at the event that the Government is matching donations to Islamic Relief’s 2012 Ramadan appeal pound for pound, up to £5 million. The Foreign Office Minister, Alistair Burt, joined the Secretary of State and Islamic Relief’s CEO in welcoming the new partnership.

Mr Mitchell said: "We are delighted that the Government will be matching pound for pound public donations to the Islamic Relief Ramadan appeal, up to a total of £5 million. We share with them their spirit of compassion and giving during Ramadan.

"This will help hundreds of thousands of the world's poorest, most vulnerable people – parents in the Sahel struggling to feed their children, and farmers in areas of Bangladesh and Pakistan whose crops are threatened by flooding or drought caused by climate change. It will help both to meet people's immediate needs and to give them the resources they need to lift themselves out of poverty."

Mr Burt said: “I am delighted to celebrate Ramadan by sharing this iftar with so many members of the Muslim community from across Britain and Islamic Relief, who have done so much to support people in need across the world. At this time of reflection and solidarity, we should remember those less fortunate than us who today face an uncertain and difficult future. Nowhere is this more poignant than in Syria where people continue to seek greater freedom in the face of brutal repression. I hope that the UK’s development assistance will stand as a sign of our commitment to charity and compassion at a time when Muslim families and friends celebrate these values. Ramadan Mubarak.”

Islamic Relief will use the funds from this year’s Ramadan appeal to support a wide range of projects around the world, with a particular emphasis on strengthening communities facing more frequent and severe droughts, floods and food crises as a consequence of climate change.

Dr Mohamed Ashmawey, CEO of Islamic Relief, said: “We are delighted to receive this support from the Government for Islamic Relief’s Ramadan appeal. This means that our supporters can double their donations and we can double the impact of our work to support poor communities and lift people out of poverty. It’s a real vote of confidence in the importance and quality of what we do.”