NEWYORK: Preparations for holy month of Ramadan have begun in New York. The New York Police Department has assured the Muslim community that they will be provided with all possible support and protection.
NYPD organized the pre-Ramadan conference at the New York Police Headquarters One Police Plaza which was attended by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and other senior officers and a large number of Muslims officers and community members.
The ceremony began with the American national anthem and the recitation of the Holy Quran. The Muslim chaplain of the New York Police Imam Tahir explained the importance and virtues of Ramadan in the light of the Quran and Hadith.
Addressing the participants, police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner of the Intelligence and Counterterrorism Bureau said that there is no place for hate crimes and incidents like Islamophobia in the city.
They said that the importance of Ramadan is well understood and the police will ensure the safety of every citizen’s life and property.
The conference was also attended by the Imams of mosques and Islamic centers in different areas of New York, community leaders, and heads and members of welfare and social organizations.
NYPD’s commanding officer of the hate crime unit Beckim Becaj and research specialist of the intelligence and counterterrorism bureau Grace Bristol said that the police are always working to ensure the safety of every citizen’s life and property. They said that the police are more active than ever in the context of the current global situation.
A documentary based on the performance of the police and various professional activities was also shown to the participants of the conference.
Vice President of the Muslim Officers Society and Lieutenant Ali Hammutoglu said that there are more than 3,500 Muslim officers and personnel in the department. He said that the relationship between the police and the community is very important.
The participants of the conference were informed to call 911 in case of any emergency, the police will be available to assist them. The Muslim community expressed gratitude to the police department for ensuring security measures on the occasion of Ramadan.
