Villa Park hosts first-ever Open Iftar

Aston Villa Football Club was proud to host the Ramadan Tent Project's Open Iftar at Villa Park for the first time on Wednesday night. 

Over 500 people attended, with 70 volunteers from the Ramadan Tent Project and Aston Villa staff helping to organise the event. 

Iftar is the first meal of the day for those who are fasting during Ramadan, which comes just after the call to the Maghrib prayer at sunset. 

The call to prayer was delivered over the Villa Park PA system, in order to not only be heard by those in the Holte Suite, but also those in the vicinity of the stadium. 

Open Iftar is the Ramadan Tent Project’s flagship initiative, increasing community harmony, belonging, and turning strangers into friends while breaking fast.

The event was coordinated in partnership with the award-winning Project, who are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. 

Founder and CEO of the Ramadan Tent Project, Omar Salha, said: "For the past decade Ramadan Tent Project has connected and convened over half a million people from all backgrounds through its annual Ramadan Festival and flagship initiative Open Iftar.

"A decade on after turning strangers into friends, softening hearts and minds, we find ourselves delivering this historic and iconic Open Iftar event in partnership with 3 Premier League clubs, a Championship club and in collaboration with The FA at England’s national football stadium, Wembley Stadium.

"From public parks and squares, to Britain’s most loved, cultural and iconic landmarks, galleries, museums, places of worship and sports stadiums, we are proud to showcase that Ramadan is open to all and host a community of communities."

Aston Villa is the fourth football club to host the event this year, with Chelsea, Queen's Park Rangers and Brighton & Hove Albion all hosting an Iftar at their respective stadiums.

Ahead of the Iftar, Aston Villa CEO Christian Purslow sent the following message to those attending...