The Iftar comes as part of Molenbeek’s bid to become the 2030 European Capital of Culture, in which the district hopes to ‘flip the script’ on its infamous narrative.
Roughly 500 people gathered at twilight to celebrate Iftar in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church in Belgium’s Molenbeek on Sunday. The shared meal was organised as part of the district’s bid to become the European Capital of Culture in 2030.
The date of the event was not chosen at random, as it marked the ninth anniversary of the Brussels bombings that happened on March 22 in 2016, and over ten years since the Paris attacks in 2015.
Molenbeek became the focus of investigations after several of the suspects were linked to the district, which triggered its infamous reputation. The neighbourhood became further scrutinised over concerns related to radicalisation.
Molenbeek has now been shortlisted as a candidate for European Capital of Culture in 2030. The organisation Molenbeek for Brussels 2030 said it is an opportunity to rewrite Molenbeek’s narrative, and to reassert itself through the strength of its cultural diversity.
Jasmine del Monte, Director of the organisation Stronger with Words and attendee of Sunday’s iftar, told Euronews that hosting iftar in a church is a “symbol of diversity, inclusion and multiculturalism,” which she says is very present in the district.
Molenbeek is home to 140 nationalities and many different languages. The gathering represented “the union of many religions, cultures, and origins that you find here,” de Monte added.
Iftar is the breaking of the fast in the evening during the month of Ramadan, which coincides with the Christian observance of Lent and the Jewish holiday Purim.
The organisation Molenbeek for Brussels 2030 said that like Lent and Purim, “it symbolises a time of solidarity and togetherness, when bonds are forged and strengthened.”
“By organising an iftar in a church on the first weekend of spring, Molenbeek for Brussels 2030 is sending out a strong signal: above and beyond beliefs and cultural and social backgrounds, what unites us is much greater than what divides us,” they added.
European Capital of Culture 2030
Sunday’s Iftar was organised by Molenbeek for Brussels 2030 in the framework of Molenbeek’s bid to become the European Capital of Culture (ECOC), who were shortlisted as a candidate city in October 2024.
In 2030, Belgium, alongside Cyprus, will nominate a city to become the European Capital of Culture. The annual competition is an initiative of the European Union designed to celebrate cultural diversity in the bloc.
Co-mission holder of Molenbeek for Brussels 2030, Fatima Zibouh, said the district has seen a lot of socio-economic challenges in recent years, but she hopes its ECOC-candidacy is a chance for Molenbeek to redefine itself.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to flip the script and to dream together to create a new us,” she told Euronews.
Molenbeek has experienced a period of stigmatisation following the attacks in Paris and Brussels. In 2024, Europe also saw a clear shift to the right and far-right in its political landscape, driving a rising anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Zibouh highlighted the importance of connecting people with each other in this time of heightened political and social polarisation in Europe.
“Generosity, empathy, and selflessness, that’s the core of our candidacy,” she concluded.
The theme of Molenbeek’s candidacy is ‘Sadaka’ – a word originating from Hebrew and adopted by many different languages including Arabic and Turkish – which means ‘generosity and solidarity.’
Del Monte said she had also experienced this stigmatisation, but felt empowered by the activities Molenbeek has hosted recently, as well as the participation of youth organisations.
“Youth are playing a very big role,” she said. “They are the future of tomorrow, the future of Europe. They have a lot to bring to the table.”
It is not the first time Belgium nominates a city. Antwerp became the titleholer in 1993, Brussels in 2000, Bruges in 2002, and Mons in 2015. Once nominated, the winning city is expected to host a series of cultural events for the duration of one calendar year.
Molenbeek is up against Leuven and Namur, the two other cities running for the ECOC title. The winner will be announced in September.
Read the full article here
