LA City Hall Hosts Iftar Honoring Hathout & Coptic Bishop

Last week, the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission hosted its 2nd Annual Iftar in the famed Tom Bradley Tower at LA City Hall . More than 100 Muslim, interfaith and civic leaders came together to honor Dr Maher Hathout, MPAC’s Senior Adviser, and  Grace Bishop Serapion, Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Diocese of Los Angeles, for standing together in the face of hate and violence following the release of the inflammatory Internet video "Innocence of Muslims" last year.

The evening opened with a moving reflection of Ramadan by LA Youth Ambassador Wasi Momin and Dr Muzammil Siddiqi , Chair of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California and of the Fiqh Council of North America.

"Fasting is shared in all religions. It helps bind our spiritual relationship to God and foster reconciliation with the self and others," said Bishop Serapion in his acceptance remarks. "I pray for the City of Los Angeles and pray that this work for peace continues."

"The obscenity of using religion to justify violence is multiple sins in one," Dr Hathout said. "We are lucky to live in the greatest city in the world in terms of freedom and pluralism. We are grateful to the city and the Human Relations Commission for everything you have done. God and hate cannot occupy the same heart and we want our hearts occupied by God."

The California Community Foundation was also recognized at the iftar for its work on the One LA One Nation civic engagement initiative it is working with several Los Angeles area Muslim, Arab and South Asian community groups, as well as allied legal and advocacy groups.

 

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