Boris: You should fast for Ramadan
Friday, 4 September 2009 5:43 PM
By politics.co.uk staff
The mayor of London has urged people to fast for a day during Ramadan to better understand Muslims.
The mayor made the suggestion during a trip to the East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre - the same mosque where Labour MP Jim Fitzgerald controversially walked out of a Muslim wedding a few weeks ago.
"Whether it's in theatre, comedy, sports, music or politics, Muslims are challenging the traditional stereotypes and showing that they are, and want to be, a part of the mainstream community," he said.
"That's why I urge people, particularly during Ramadan, to find out more about Islam, increase your understanding and learning, even fast for a day with your Muslim neighbour and break your fast at the local mosque. I would be very surprised if you didn't find that you share more in common than you thought.
"There are valuable lessons that people of all backgrounds can learn from Islam such as the importance of community spirit, family ties, compassion and helping those less fortunate, all of which lie at the heart of the teachings of Ramadan.''
Muslims around the world are currently celebrating the holy period of Ramadan, in which participating Muslims fast from dawn until sunset.
Earlier in the day, the mayor had played down the comments made by Kit Malthouse yesterday that Conservatives in the capitol had their "hands on the tiller" of the Metropolitan police.
"Sir Paul Stephenson, as everybody knows is in full operational control of the Met and has been ever since his appointment and does a first class job," Mr Johnson told London radio station LBC 97.3 .
It has been a bad day for the mayor whose former deputy mayor, Ian Clement, was charged with five offences under the Fraud Act earlier.
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