Unity celebrated at iftar

Organised by the Cobram Islamic Association with support from the Islamic Council of Victoria, the event drew guests from the Cobram Riverside Church and the Cobram Uniting Church.

Representatives from St Joseph’s Primary School and Cobram Secondary College also attended the event, which opened with a recitation of the Holy Quran.

Later in the evening, after ICV chief executive officer Zakaria Wahid presented on International Islamophobia Day, CIAs Imam Mohamad Salim led a prayer before the feast got under way.

Guests were well-fed thanks to an array of traditional food from Malaysian and Indonesian cuisines.

While the iftar was a chance for dialogue between different faiths, CIA secretary Dr Mohamed Taufiq said the evening was also a symbol of unity.

“I believe we may have some common values. We talk about the Abrahamic religion that involves the Christians, the Jews and the Muslims - we’re all descendants of Abraham,” he said.

“Instead of talking about the differences, why not tonight we talk about some of our similarities?”

ICV president Dr Mohamed Mohideen said it was important for the Muslim community to be able to associate with other communities as well.

“We cannot live in isolation,” he said.

“This is an opportunity for the people of Cobram and the community to come together and understand what Muslims are all about.

“It’s why we take this event to regional communities. To uplift and empower these communities.”

The event also marked the six-year anniversary since the Christchurch terror attack, in which 51 people were killed by an Australian gunman.

Dr Mohideen stressed the importance of such events in fostering understanding between those of different faiths.

“Our main message is, get to know the Muslim community. Keep an open mind,” he said.

“I say, open hearts, open minds.”