For the first time, Ramadan lights illuminate streets in Belgium
Ghent (ANTARA) - The city of Ghent in Belgium has, for the first time, installed Ramadan decorations along two of its busiest shopping streets, making it the first such initiative in the European country.
The lights emit a warm glow throughout the holy month for Muslims and also reflect the growing spirit of solidarity between communities, Turkish news agency Anadolu reported on Thursday (26/2).
The initiative was led by the Ghent Mosque Association (VGM) in cooperation with local shop owners. The two areas decorated are Bevrijdingslaan-Phoenixstraat in Brugse Poort and Wondelgemstraat in Rabot.
The lights were installed a few days before Ramadan and will remain until Eid al-Fitr.
“This is the first initiative of its kind in all of Belgium. No other city has ever had decorations like this,” said VGM Chairman Mohamed Abd El Motleb Omar to Anadolu.
According to Omar, the idea began to take shape four years ago after similar Ramadan decorations appeared in London. Local merchants then gave the association the mandate to handle the procedural and operational aspects, including obtaining permits.
The VGM represents 23 mosques in Ghent and seeks to support the Muslim community and encourage cooperation between congregations from various backgrounds, including Turkish, Moroccan, Afghan, and Pakistani.
“We organize various activities that bring together mosque leaders and the wider Ghent community,” said Omar, citing a large-scale annual iftar event that brings together people from diverse backgrounds.
He said the decorated streets are known for their bustling commercial activity and many of the shop owners are of Muslim background. The area becomes even more lively, especially in the evenings during Ramadan, he said.
“The response has been mostly positive. There have been no problems, even from the far-right [conservative] groups. The reaction has been much more positive than I expected,” said Omar.
He added that the decorations have sparked conversations among residents who want to learn more about Ramadan and the meaning of fasting for Muslims.
He hopes that other cities in Belgium will adopt similar initiatives to promote a more collaborative community life between different groups.
Translator: Kuntum Khaira Riswan