On Wednesday, over a thousand people gathered at the Maritime Museum of Barcelona for a grand community Iftar. Here, Muslim leaders and senior politicians issued a unified call for peace, diplomacy, and dialogue, aiming to counter the rising tide of global conflict and far-right hate speech.
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The event, drawing around 1,100 attendees, marked the Iftar – the evening meal Muslims use to end their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan. Organised by the Fundació Ibn Battuta, in collaboration with the Union of Islamic Communities of Catalonia (UCIDCAT) and the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), this gathering powerfully promoted coexistence and mutual respect.
Mohammed Chaib, President of the Fundació Ibn Battuta, set the tone for the evening, lamenting how some use the Muslim community to undermine social harmony. “In the face of hate and racism, we need more commitment and more dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims,” he declared. “And in the face of wars, we need peace and diplomacy.”
Chaib directly addressed disinformation spread by the far-right, clarifying that the Muslim community has never requested that schools stop traditional activities like dancing or singing. “If anyone is using this, they are doing so with malice and for their own political gain,” he said, urging democratic parties not to “cower” before such rhetoric.
A Call for Peace in Troubled Times
The timing of the Iftar against a backdrop of international instability was a central theme. Mohammed El Ghaidouni, President of UCIDCAT, noted that Ramadan this year coincides with “a difficult moment, where the language of war once again fills spaces that should be reserved for dialogue, diplomacy, and understanding between peoples.”
“War is never the solution. Every bomb that falls on a city destroys much more than buildings; it erodes trust in humanity.”Mohammed El Ghaidouni, President of UCIDCAT
El Ghaidouni praised the Spanish government’s clear stance in favour of dialogue, a position that echoes actions at a regional level. For example, Catalonia recently launched a €1.5 million support programme for Palestine. He warned that the growth of the far-right poses a significant challenge to democratic coexistence. “There is no democracy without diversity, no coexistence without respect, and no true peace without justice,” he affirmed.
City and Government Leaders Endorse Unity
The event drew a host of public figures, all of whom echoed the call for unity. Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni stated that the gathering showed a “rich and diverse Barcelona” that “stands up against the rhetoric of expulsion, hatred, and xenophobia.”
He pointed to the recent appointment of Sara Belbeida to the Barcelona City Council as a concrete example of the city’s inclusive identity. Belbeida is the first woman of Arab origin and Muslim faith to hold the position. “This celebration,” Collboni said, “is a call to hope, to optimism, to say that it is possible to live together in diversity.”
Representing the Government of Catalonia, Ramon Espadaler, the Minister for Justice and Democratic Quality, said the Govern aligns itself with diplomacy. He argued that events like the Iftar help society “to know each other better, to dialogue, to understand each other and to look forward together.”
Pilar Cancela, Spain’s Secretary of State for Migration, delivered a forceful speech condemning global aggression. “There is some madman out there who believes he is an imperialist, the owner of the world. We must say no to him. Spain says no,” she stated, as reported by Europa Press. She also defended immigration, highlighting that migrants contribute 10% to the GDP while accounting for only 1% of social spending.
The Spanish Government Delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, dismissed divisions based on origin or religion, arguing society splits only “into good and bad people.” He added, “This Iftar is full of good people.”
Nezha Attahar, the Consul General of Morocco, spoke on behalf of the Consular Corps, remarking that Ramadan highlights universal values. She described the evening as proof of dialogue’s power to build cohesion and framed the Mediterranean as a space for “cooperation, understanding and peace.”
