Organizational meeting for the X Islamic Festival of Mértola

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the Islamic Festival of Mértola, being a biennial festival, it coincides with the tenth celebration.
In this spirit, the Municipal Chamber of Mértola has been holding a series of meetings with the organizing parties and stakeholders, to discuss the evolution of this festival, the things that can be improved and the principles governing the festival in order to continue and improve in future editions.
The Seville Mosque Foundation, represented by Hajj Khalid and Luqman Nieto, attended one of these talks held on March 12 in Mértola.
The meeting, in which there were more than twenty people, took place in the form of dialogue and debate according to the concerns and suggestions of the participants.
They talked, among other things, about the importance of the adjective ‘Islamic’ of this festival and how this has made this festival a unique event by promoting, in a physical way both in the market and with the presence of the Islamic Community, as well as with the activities that take place there such as conferences, Dhikra, etc. the values that Islam promotes.
The festival was discussed as an encounter between different cultures and ways of seeing the world and the harmonious coexistence that has emerged here as an example, as well as how to continue promoting this conversation through other cultural activities.
Desires were also expressed to make the festival more sustainable in relation to the environment; that it not be a one-time event that occurs every two years but something that, if the event itself maintains its regularity, is present through workshops, exhibitions, etc. throughout the year; and also the benefit it leaves to the town and the region and how to minimize the negative effects that may arise.
This year the Islamic Festival of Mértola will take place from May 16 to 19, which will coincide with the month of Ramadan, and therefore the participation of the Seville Mosque Foundation and the Islamic Community of Spain will be different.
We will not have a market and the Dhikra that is usually celebrated will be changed by a public Iftar.
Other activities, such as conferences, will be maintained.
We hope that this year will once again be a success and that future editions will be even more successful and beneficial for all.