Celebration of Eid-ul-Adha at
Lambeth Town Hall
Dr. Mozammel Haque
The Mayor of Lambeth Council, Councillor Ibrahim Dogus, organised a
belated Eid-ul-Adha celebration at the Lambeth Town Hall, on Monday, the 30th
of September 2019. It was attended by the Speaker of the Hackney Council,
Councillor Kam Adams, Councillor Mohamed Jaser of Stockwell Ward, Community
leaders, activists and representatives of charities.
Eid ul Adha celebrated at
Lambeth Town Hall
Speaking to the gathering, Mayor Ibrahim said, “Kurban bayram kutlu
olsun! A belated Eid Mubarak!” and he
also mentioned, “I’ve already had the great privilege, of celebrating Eid this
year all across Lambeth. And it is an honor to be able to extend the
celebrations here with you this evening.”
Explaining what is Eid, Mayor Ibrahim said, “Eid is a time for
reflection and starting afresh, a time to rejoice with family and
friends, but also a time for remembering those who are less fortunate.”
“It’s a time to count our blessings while also giving charity to those
in need,” he said.
Mentioning about Lambeth, The Mayor Ibrahim said, “Lambeth is home to
one of the most unique communities in the world, and there is always something
special, about seeing us come together, united in our differences.”
“I’ve often heard it said, that it is the destination, not the journey, that
is most important,” he said.
Mayor Ibrahim spoke about the community united. He said, “Wherever you
come from, wherever you’ve been, or wherever you may end up, we are all together
here today as citizens of Lambeth, united as a community. Breaking bread with
your neighbours, as we are tonight, should be the most natural act in the
world.”
“But sadly, what comes so easily to us has greater and greater
symbolism, in the increasingly divisive times in which we live. So for that
reason, and many more, I thank you for coming!” Councillor Ibrahim Dogus said.
Concluding his speech Mayor Ibrahim wishes “all a peaceful and
prosperous year to come, Let’s continue to lift each other up, and make a
better community for all. Thank you!”
Roots of Ibrahim Dogus and his family
Mayor Ibrahim Dogus came to London as a Kurdish refugee, aged 14, in
1994 and able to speak barely any English, few could have predicted the
remarkable path ahead of him. From humble beginnings working long, gruelling
hours in a Turkish restaurant, he began to salt away his modest earnings, with
the dream of bigger things to come. “It was really tough life at first.”
Ibrahim recalled fondly. “I was working up to 16 hours a day for seven days a
week.”
“But I was always aware that it was the only way to grow and give myself
opportunities in the future I was working towards something. There is no better
incentive than knowing that,” Councillor Ibrahim said.
He now runs several successful small businesses and not for profit
organisations including three restaurants in South London where more than 50
people are employed. His act of selflessness during the Westminster attack was
published by the Independent and shared by readers across the globe.
From Teenage refugee to
Mayor of Lambeth Council
Mayor Ibrahim Dogus’s journey is a long, hard work and dedication. From
teenage refugee forced to flee the political turmoil of Turkey to the
successful businessman, community leader, charity fundraiser and politician.
Ibrahim father of two, yet to celebrate his 40th birthday remains
humble about his achievement.
It was mentioned his roots in proud Kurdish traditions and principles
have provided a solid core to his work. While his family life with wife Raife
Aytek and two young sons, Mirzan 9, and Alan 4, gave him reason to pursue a
better future. At the age of 19, Ibrahim was elected chair of Halkevi, one of
the UK’s largest community centres serving 16,000 people, where he had a team
of 30 staff working to integrate Turkish and Kurdish communities.
After a spell as the chair of a national Kurdish/Turkish charity, he is
now the founder and director of the centre for Turkish Studies (CEFTUS), Centre
for Kurdish Progress, the founder of the Telgraf newspaper for Kurdish and
Turkish communities and the London Kurdish Film Festival and the publisher of
this community newspaper, Lambeth Life.
The latest stage in that community work and public service saw Ibrahim
elected as the Mayor of Lambeth. It is an office he will take over after
working alongside the present incumbent, Councillor Christopher Wellbelove, as
deputy over the past year.
“It was one of the proudest days of my life,” said Councillor Ibrahim. “I
love Lambeth and representing the place I live with my family and where my
businesses are is a huge honour,” he said.
Dream of Mayor Ibrahim
Clean Safer Lambeth
That this civic recognition comes just a year after he was elected by
Labour to represent Bishop’s Ward, where he lives with his family, is a clear
sign that far more is still to be achieved.
“There is no quick fix, but I will be doing everything I can as Mayor to
try to make Lambeth a cleaner, safer place to live and work and to tackle those
key issues like the lack of affordable housing, “ the Mayor Ibrahim said.
About his dreams and wishes, the Mayor Ibrahim said to Lambeth Life,
“I am looking forward to an exciting year representing Lambeth as its mayor. I
will be doing all I can to support this fantastic and diverse community.”
“I care passionately about Lambeth and would encourage everyone to get
involved in helping make Lambeth an even better place to live and work,” Mayor
Ibrahim said.
In 2013 he set up the British Kebab Awards to celebrate the success of
the many migrants who, like him, came to the UK and set up thriving small
businesses. The annual event has now become a firm fixture in the calendar for
politicians of all parties.
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