NEW YORK: New York’s police Muslim Officers Society hosted its annual Iftar dinner at police headquarters. Police officers, social workers and journalists were conferred awarded in recognition of their services.
The 16th Annual Iftar Dinner organised by the Muslim Officers Society at the NYPD Headquarters One Police Plaza was started with recitation of Holy Quran by the Second Vice President of MOS Ali Hammutoglu and later Naat Rasool-e-Maqbool was presented in honour of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
A large number of Muslim community along with their families participated in the Iftar dinner along with senior police officers, city government representatives, consul generals of different countries. US national anthem was sung on this occasion.
Muslim Chaplain of NYPD, Imam Tahir, congratulated the Muslims on Ramadan while wishing the non-Muslim community on their religious festival.
The participants of the event were also shown a special documentary based on the aims and objectives of the establishment of the Muslim Officers Society and its performance.
MOS President Deputy Inspector Adeel Rana said that not only in New York but in other states Muslims have also achieved a prominent positions in the police department due to their performances.
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams also attended the Iftar dinner. Addressing a participants , he supported the call for a ceasefire in Gaza. He said that the best way to understand the message of Ramadan is to respect each others.
Talking to Voice of South Asia, MOS President Adeel Rana said that this iftar dinner not only brings Muslims together in one place but also a source for the non-Muslim community to see and understand the Muslim civilisation and culture closely.
New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan, New Jersey Muslim Officers Society President Trooper Mudassar Malik, New Jersey Director of Homeland Security and preparedness Laurie Duran and Detective Ehtasham Chaudhary also participated in the Iftar dinner.
Commissioners of various departments in the administration of New York Mayor Eric Adams participated and they paid tribute to the efforts and sacrifices of the police for the establishment of peace while the Muslim Officers Society was presented a special citation from the Mayor’s Office.
Mayor Eric Adams could not attend the Iftar dinner due to the tragic murder of a police officer in Queens, while Police Commissioner Edward A Caban went to the scene to perform professional duties after a brief participation in the event.
Azaan of Namaz-e-Maghrib was called at the Police Plaza and everyone did the Iftar together. At the end, MOS conferred community service awards to police officers, social workers and journalist Mohammad Farrukh in recognition of their services.
