Strangers Share Iftar in Germany Through a Grassroots Ramadan Initiative
A local initiative in North Rhine-Westphalia is bringing people together during Ramadan. Through ramadan-nrw, strangers from different backgrounds are sharing iftar—the evening meal that breaks the daily fast. This year, two young women joined a Muslim couple in Wuppertal for their first experience of the tradition.
Lena Salewski and Charlotte Weber had never attended an iftar before. After signing up on the ramadan-nrw website, they were matched with Fatmanur and Erol Okumuşoğlu, a couple who have lived in Germany for over 30 years. The four had only exchanged a few WhatsApp messages before meeting in person.
Fatmanur spent four to five hours preparing the meal while fasting herself. She described the process as a test of self-discipline, one that deepened her appreciation for the tradition. When sunset arrived, the fast was broken in the traditional way: with a date and a glass of water. The *ramadan-nrw* initiative works with around 70 organisations across the region to pair guests with hosts. Erol remembered his parents inviting neighbours to iftar when he was young, a practice he now continues. For Lena and Charlotte, the evening was both exciting and slightly nerve-wracking—an opportunity to step into a new cultural experience. While no nationwide figures track intercultural iftar events in 2024, smaller gatherings like this one highlight the initiative's grassroots impact. In Berlin, for instance, a similar event in March once drew around 100 guests, though exact numbers for this year remain unclear.
The evening gave Lena and Charlotte a firsthand look at Ramadan's traditions. For Fatmanur and Erol, hosting was a chance to share their culture in the community they've called home for decades. Through simple invitations and shared meals, ramadan-nrw continues to build connections across different backgrounds.
