Mosaic was thrilled to be involved in the recent historic inaugural Iftar at Lambeth Palace hosted by the Most Reverend Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Members of Mosaic’s leadership team, including Manager Director Jonathan Freeman, as well as current and previous board members, and Mosaic’s Founder Chairman HRH Princess Badiya bint El Hassan were in attendance at the Interfaith Iftar organised by Harris Bokhari OBE, co-founder of the Naz Legacy Foundation and Mosaic Board Member.
The event saw 100 young Londoners of different or no faith, including pupils from Mosaic schools Westminster Academy and Ernest Bevin College, join the Archbishop of Canterbury, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, and Mosaic Ambassador and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in the daily breaking of the fast during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
It was also the setting for a selfie taken by Mayor Sadiq Khan (on our very own Nizam Uddin’s phone who was a volunteer on the night) that was subsequently retweeted by some of the most famous people in the world, including Ashton Kutcher and J.K. Rowling, who commented that the ‘picture gives hope.’
Harris Bokhari OBE said: “This was an uplifting event that made a positive statement about the diversity and tolerance that dominates our capital city. For Muslims to break their fast alongside followers of all faiths shows a solidarity and understanding that is more necessary now than ever. The food itself, also sensitive to all faiths, was great too!”
Harris is board member for the Prince's Trust Mosaic initiative. He was appointed as Mosaic’s first honorary patron and was awarded the prestigious Beacon Award for Philanthropy Advocate 2013 for raising £1m within 12 months for various charities working in deprived communities in the UK, becoming the youngest and first Muslim to receive this honour. He now serves as a judge for the awards.
Harris is the co-founder of the Naz Legacy Foundation, which aims to enhance educational excellence and positive integration. It was established in memory of his late father, Naz Bokhari OBE, the first Asian/Muslim head teacher in the UK. The Foundation was honoured to be awarded the Big Society Award 2014 by the Prime Minister. Harris is also an ambassador for the British Asian Trust.
Harris’s interfaith work has included organising the first ever engagement event between national community, women and youth leaders from the Jewish and Muslim communities meeting with the new Chief Rabbi in Finchley Kinloss Synagogue. Harris was one of the first Muslims to be invited to the Chief Rabbi’s installation ceremony and was selected to be an Ariane De Rothschild fellow, in partnership with Cambridge University’s Judge Business School and King’s College. Harris also organised the first youth interfaith iftar at Lambeth Palace, which brought together the Archbishop of Canterbury, Chief Rabbi, Mayor of London and over 100 youth leaders from each of London’s boroughs – representing all faiths and none.
Harris was awarded an OBE in Her Majesty’s Birthday Honours List for services for young people and interfaith relations; named as one of 40 people in finance who goes further for good causes by Financial News Extra Mile List; and named as one of London’s most influential figures by the Evening Standard’s Progress 1000 list.
View all posts by Harris Bokhari OBE
Harris Bokhari 
You must be logged in to post a comment.