Press Release

2023

Houston Iftar 2023 - the 24th Annual Ramadan Dinner brings over 2300 Community members together and paid unprecedented tribute to Mayor Sylvester Turner:

Houston, Texas (Our Special Correspondent): A mammoth gathering on Sunday, April 2nd, 2023, at the Bayou City Center in Houston of around 2,300 persons made it the largest ever Iftar-Dinner event in the United States of America.

“Friendships matter. I want to thank Syed Javaid Anwar, Muhammad Saeed Sheikh, Tanweer Ahmed, & all the patrons & collaborating partner organizations in putting together this sterling event. We have accomplished this together, as Houston has shined tonight at this Annual Iftar-Dinner. God: The Most Gracious - The Most Merciful Has Smiled on Houston.”

These were the amiable words of Honorable Mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner, as he delivered the Keynote Address at the 24th Annual Iftar-Dinner, which in the past 13 years has become the Signature Event of Houston, the 4th largest metropolis of USA.

This event has been organized for the past 13 years by the Muslim Sister Cities of Houston, namely Abu Dhabi, Baku, Basrah, Istanbul, and Karachi; together with collaborating partner organizations the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, the Ismaili Council for the Southwestern United States, Bohra Jamat, the Helping Hand For Relief And Development (HHRD), and over 60 Community organizations.

Several benefactors and sponsors, especially Syed Javaid Anwar, Tanweer Ahmed, HHRD, & others contributions played key role in putting together this well-coordinated and impressive event.

This was last Iftar-Dinner as the Chief Guest for Honorable Mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner, as he will get termed out after 8 years by the end of 2023.

A special tribute was paid to Honorable Turner through an exceptional documentary video produced by Zeeshan Jafry and Muhammad Saeed Sheikh.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott's video message of Ramadan greetings to the Muslims American community was also played on big screen at the Iftar.

Other special speakers on the occasion Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and Congressman AL Green, who also gave special congressional certificates to the Organizing Committee of the event.

Two distinct presentations were done by Dr. Saleha Bashir Khumawala of University of Houston on the topic of “Building Communities’: The DNA of Islam”; and Dr. Shaykh Waleed Basyouni, President of ALMaghrib Institute, who spoke about the Significance of Ramadan saying this month is about inculcating Self-Control to achieve God Conscience; spoke about societies losing the moral campus, & he supplicated for the whole world as we are engulfed by Climate Change, & Earthquakes in Pakistan, Syria, Türkiye, & elsewhere.

Other notables’ speakers on the occasion were welcome speech by Muhammad Saeed Sheikh, well-known Pakistani American businessman and Chief Patron of Houston Iftar Syed Javaid Anwar, Chris Olson Director Mayors Office, President of ISGH Ayman Kabire, President of the Ismaili Council for the Southwestern United States Murad Ajani, and former City Council Member M. J. Khan.

Invocation was done by Imam Hamza Ghia of Hamd Institute, call for prayer (Aadhan) by Imam Hafez Furqaan Sayed, and Mughrib prayers led by Mufti Abdul Qadar Siddiqui.

Sumptuous food was served by Tempura, Fadi’s, and Sweet Factory.

2021

Historic Drive Thru Houston “Virtual” Iftar 2021 held and 3,000 Meals handed out in Respectful Manner:

Houston, Texas, USA (April 19, 2021)

Karachi, Istanbul, Baku, Baku, Basrah, and Abu Dhabi Sister City Associations along with the Houston Mayor’s Office of Trade and International Affairs, the Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH), the Ismaili Council for Southwestern US, Dawoodi Bohra Mosque, Helping Hand USA & many Collaborating Organizations organized the 2nd “Houston Virtual Iftar Program & Dinner Pickup” with the Mayor of Houston on Saturday, April 17, 2021 at the Bayou City Event Center.

Historic number of almost 3,000 Iftar dinners were professionally placed in the cars of the pre-registered Guests. This is estimated to be one of the largest Drive Thru Iftars of USA.

Houston Iftar is a two decades old tradition of the city, where many Muslim Organizations with Muslim & Non-Muslim Volunteers coming together to have the Evening Meal with the Mayor of Houston, whose office fully facilitate in the organization of the event. Year 2020 saw full-blown COVID-19 pandemic that has continued into 2021 Ramadan. As such last year was the 1st and this year the 2nd Virtual Iftar; which is the continuation of the 20+ years of tradition.

Last year more than 2,000 meals were given, while this Year 2021, about 3,000 meals were given out, making it a record occasion for the Houston Ifar with the Mayor. As always, delicious Iftar Dinner was catered by Tempura, Fadis’ & Sweet Factory.

On arrival, Honorable Mayor Sylvester Turner greeted all the volunteers preparing the meal; and then went out at the driveways to place boxes of meals in the cars of several pre-registered guests, as they came through the enlisting point. Mayor personally spoke to the people in the car, gave them greetings of Ramadan, and asked for their wishes & prayers for the City and everyone.

Earlier Honorable Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Honorable Congressman AL Green, Honorable City of Houston Councilperson Letitia Plummer, Honorable Council of Sugar Land Councilperson Naushad Kermally, Honorable Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, Honorable Consul General of Pakistan Abrar Hashmi of Pakistan, and several notables & volunteers diligently served the pre-registered guests by placing boxes of meals in their cars, and conveying their best wishes to them.

For their utmost 100s of hours of services of all the volunteers, Hon Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Hon Congressman AL Green gave special Congressional Proclamations to the Organizing Committee of the event.

Addressing a Press Briefing, Hon Mayor Sylvester Turner said he is very pleased that he gave challenge of 2,500 meals, while the organizers & patrons have arranged for almost 3,000; next year the challenge is more than that.

Hon Congressman AL Green, Hon City of Houston Councilperson Letitia Plummer, Hon Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, Hon Consul General of Pakistan Abrar Hashmi of Pakistan, Chief Coordinator of the Iftar Muhammad Saeed Sheikh, President Ismaili Council Murad Ajani, & President ISGH Ayman Kabire also spoke on the occasion.

Later in the evening a virtual pre-recorded Live Program was simulcast on HTV, ABC 13, TV One, NTV Houston, and social media, which featured Mayor Sylvester Turner, Chief Patron Syed Javaid Anwar, Religious Scholar Zaid Shakir, Imam Daniel Hernandez, and primary community leaders.

They all thanked the Organizing Committee of Iftar, all the Collaborative Partner Organizations, Media Partners, Restaurants, and 100s of Community Volunteers together with the Islamic Arts in helping with the celebration of Ramadan Iftar-&-Meal with communities and friends of Houston in an amicable manner.

2020

Houston made history with the largest virtual Iftar event Around 2,000 persons were part of the Blessings:

Houston, Texas (May 9, 2020): “The spirit we have seen during the Houston Virtual Iftar 2020 means COVID-19 cannot defeat our resolve and efforts by the Grace of Merciful God: This year’s event is for 2,000 persons; next year our aim will be 2,500 people by the Blessings of Gracious God.”

These were the sentiments expressed by Honorable Mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner, as he together with several community volunteers placed food boxes in the trunks of Houstonian families, who came in large numbers in a well-organized drive-thru lanes progression.

As every year, this event is being organized by Abu Dhabi, Baku, Basrah, Istanbul & Karachi Sister City Association along with ISGH and Several Collaborating Organization.

“This Virtual Iftar is the largest Event of its kind in the USA, where actual Iftar Food is given to almost 2,000 persons at the traditional location of Bayou City Event Center, and then people go home to see the proceedings on TV & other media before breaking the fast. On behalf of the Muslim Community, I want to thank Mayor of all People of Houston Honorable Sylvester Turner & his Staff Members, especially the Director of Trade and International Affairs Mr. Chris Olson, Ms. Jessica Nego, & many collaborating organizations including volunteers said Muhammad Saeed Sheikh, President of the Houston-Karachi Sister City Association (HKSCA), & chief coordinating volunteer of the event.

Houston Iftar Dinner has been happening every year since 2000, and there were chances that it will get cancelled due to COVID-19, until this idea of Virtual Iftar came, with good coordination from the City of Houston.
People were asked to Pre-Register, so that proper number of food boxes, of South Asian style cuisine from Tempura Restaurant, and Mediterranean Food from Fadis’ Restaurant, can be readied.

On the day of the event Saturday, May 09, 2020, between 3pm-5pm; pre-registered participants came plus some were registered on spot to the same location as in the past few years (Bayou City Event Center); community volunteers prepared the boxes of food starting 2pm till 5pm; other volunteers with Mayor placed these boxes in the trunks of drive through cars of families; and then people went home to watch from 7:15pm-to-8:10pm Special Iftar TV transmission on City of Houston TV, Pakistani Channel TV One, abc 13 and Social media; plus at Iftar time when Aadhan was relayed on the same media, people enjoyed the Iftar Dinner; a real amazing effort.

Organizing committee of the event especially thank all the media of the Houston community for their positive input, and presence; as well as have thanked community members M. J. Khan, Murad Ajani, Ilyas Choudry, Nasru Rupani, Ruhi Ozgel, Sohail Ali, Imran Ali, Haroon Shaikh, Mian Muhammad Nazir, Dr. Hina Azam, Naheed Ahmed, Cristal Montanez, Muhammad Saad Ansari, Mariya Usmani, Abdul Rahman Badat, Mahmood Ahmed, Farah Iqbal, Kamran Jilani, Shamim Syed, Jameel Siddiqui, Tariq Khan, Najam Shaikh, and 100s of volunteers.

This years special Iftar was chiefly sponsored by Patron Syed Javaid Anwar of Midland Energy as a Grand Sponsor along with Murad Ajani President Southwest Ismaili Council of USA, Helping Hand for Relief and Development, Bayou City Event Center, Ibn Sina Foundation, Rupani Foundation, HRSS (LLP), GHRA, Wallis State Bank, Islamic Relief, Sherali Haiderali, Dawoodi Bohra Community, Tajddin Momin, Ahmed Al Yasin, Shah Haleem, Deputy Sherriff Nasir Abbasi, Famous Food Products, MUNA, Sage Productions, Farooq Asmat, HNC Amusement, Asaad Siddiqui, Asim Siddiqui, Jamal Bafagih, Akhtar Abdullah, and others.