By Marwan Boltrosh

Source: Kuwait News Agency

LONDON, July 22 (KUNA) — Ramadan atmosphere for Arab and Muslims living throughout Europe is different, compared with the annual spiritual experience at home, with many sensing distress for performing annual religious services far from their loved ones.

However, the city of London secures some of basic and spiritual manifestations of the holy months where mosques get crammed with worshippers and food offered abundantly and generously for the needy and poor.

Majority of the Arabs and Muslims in the European countries who have left their homelands for academic studies, medical treatment or performing official missions feel deeply lonely for living among predominant communities of different religious beliefs and traditions.

However, many students studying at universities in Britain say the city of London is distinguished with a “special Ramadan atmosphere,” where the believers can perform their rituals, largely, freely and without restrictions.

Murad Ayoub, spokesman of the Muslim Council of Britain, said in an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the city major mosques attract a large number of worshippers, during the holy month. Some activists hold iftar meals for the needy and some limited-income people.

Some three million Muslims of diverse races and nationalities live in Britain. The nation hosts 1,550 mosques and prayer corners that lure thousands of worshippers per day.

Ahmad Al-Otaibi, a Saudi engineering student, said he spends two weeks of the holy month in the country without feeling lonely, due to mingling with many Muslims of other countries at the worship places.

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