DEVIZES’ Muslim community raised £726 for the town’s food bank at its Eid celebration on Sunday, July 9.

More than 200 people went to the event at Devizes Sports Club, which began with a reading from the Quran by community leader Shahid Saddiq, then heard from Muslim scholar from Coventry, Imam Shaikh Zain ul Iqtab Siddiqi; members of the food bank, police and fire services; Mayor of Devizes, Cllr Nigel Carter; and MP for Devizes, Claire Perry.

Devizes community leader Imam Hossain said: “The event went very well: everybody enjoyed it and it brought the community closer together. Thank you to everyone who came; we were thrilled to see the response and support from local people.

“Devizes Muslim community is proud to work with the food bank but will be more proud to work with the community to eradicate the need for it.”

Eid Al-Fitr celebrates the end of Ramadan, an Islamic month of fasting and abstinence committed to practicing good deeds, strengthening will power, experiencing deprivation and hardship, and being kind and generous.

Mr Hossain added: “The purpose of this event was not only to mark the Eid Festival but to open the door to the community and to raise money for Devizes Foodbank, which reflects the purpose of Ramadan.”

Local MP Claire Perry said: “It is brilliant to see so many people from a wide range of faiths and communities across the Devizes area coming together to learn from each other and celebrate Eid.”

During his opening speech, Devizes businessman Shahid Saddiq said: “We may be from different faiths - Christians, Muslims, Hindu, Sikh, Jew - and different backgrounds - Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Syrian, but one thing in common is that we are all British and we all belong to the British community.

“We have to live together in peace and harmony with respect for each other as one community and play our part in the peace and prosperity of Great Britain, preserving British values.”