We live in a time where division and conflict characterize our everyday lives. But it is precisely in times like these that it is more important than ever to come together, meet, and create dialogue across differences. That is why we held another Ramadan dinner – this time in the banquet hall of Copenhagen City Hall. The evening was a beautiful celebration of our similarities – and not least our differences – with a delicious festive meal that brought together people from different backgrounds and beliefs. In fact, this year's Ramadan dinner can be called a historic event: it is the first time that a town hall in Denmark has hosted a Ramadan dinner. Copenhagen's mayor for employment and integration, Jens-Kristian Lütken, hosted the event together with Özlem Cekic. We are very proud of this. We also believe that it sends a strong signal about the need for tolerance and coexistence. The evening was everything we could have hoped for – and then some. We think the program and the pictures speak for themselves:
Program for the evening Welcome by Özlem Cekic and Jens-Kristian Lütken Stand-up comedy by Ray Samson Poetry reading by Haidar Ansari The buffet is open (food presented by Claus Meyer and Güler Yagci) Speech by Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen Musical interlude by Silk Road Orchestra Thank you for tonight
THANK YOU toeveryone who came yesterday – and to everyone who supported the event. A special thank you goes to the Politiken Foundation and the Tuborg Foundation for their financial support of the event.
THANK YOUto all the performers who spent the evening creating a great atmosphere and making us wiser.
THANK YOU toCafé Mors Varme Hænder and Meyers for a thoroughly exquisite meal!
And last but not least: Thank you to Jens-Kristian Lütken, Mayor for Employment and Integration, for having the courage to insist on bridge-building. It has not been without political opposition.
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Best regards, Brobyggerne – Center for Dialogkaffe
Speech at Ramadan dinner at Copenhagen City Hall on March 19, 2025
THE SPOKEN WORD COUNTS
The first time I held a Ramadan dinner in the Danish Parliament in 2010, PET called to ask if extra security was needed, as the participants might cause trouble.
Some people even thought that you were circumcised on your way to dinner!
During the coronavirus pandemic, our virtual dinner was hacked by right-wing extremists, with over 1,000 guests witnessing a child being sexually abused.
There have been many amusing – and some less amusing – attempts over the years to prevent people from eating hummus together.
But when I look back, there is one word that characterizes the resistance to meeting across differences and despite disagreements: legitimization.
The mantra is that if you meet your opposite, you help to "legitimize" the other. Legitimize Islam. Legitimize headscarves. Legitimize Muslims.
I have never understood this kind of logic, even though I recognize that encountering someone who holds opposing views can really challenge one's tolerance. The prerequisite for a well-functioning democracy is that we can talk to each other – despite our differences. Because opponents are also fellow human beings. They are fellow citizens and fellow countrymen. They are neighbors, colleagues, volunteers, and friends.
The essence of the Ramadan dinner is to bring people together so that they can learn more about each other's beliefs, customs, and traditions. It is not an attempt to sneak my religion in through the back door or forcibly convert my guests along the way.
Therefore, I would like to reassure you. We have not put anything in the food. You will leave here exactly as you were and are – but perhaps with new acquaintances in your cell phone's address book.
The ticket to a Ramadan dinner is not consensus, but diversity. That is why we have sent out invitations to a wide range of people. All parties in the Danish Parliament have received invitations. Organizations and individuals who are traditionally more critical of Islam have also been invited.
And it is a great honor for us that so many different people have agreed to meet across differences.
For the same reason, you will not be seated with your partners or friends. You can rest assured that we have had a lot of fun with the seating plan at Brobyggerne. We have made every effort to seat you as diversely as possible. Jewish friends are seated with Muslim friends. Researchers are seated with practitioners. Actors with lawyers. Kurds with Turks. Greenlanders with Americans. I could go on.
But when I look out over the assembly, it is especially the guests sitting at three particular tables that I am particularly happy to see. It is you young people who have chosen to spend an evening in this company. Thank you for giving us adults hope for the future. It's great to have you here.
For us Muslims, Ramadan is a month of diversity, where we meet across boundaries, where there is freedom for difference, and where there is room for everyone – regardless of ethnic, religious, economic, and cultural background.
Ramadan is a month for reflection. It is a time to pause and consider whether you have hurt anyone along the way. It is a time for solidarity and a call to reach out to those who are less fortunate than yourself.
It is also a time when families and friends come together to deepen their faith, engage in their communities, and remind each other of the importance of compassion.
I think that all of us, regardless of our beliefs, can agree that it is always good to reflect on this.
And we would do well to reflect on the fact that minorities in Denmark actually contribute to creating a dynamic and diverse society. They have lived in Denmark for several generations. They represent countless ethnicities and have roots in many different parts of the world.
Many came in their time to try to create a better future for their children. My father was one of them. He came with the dream of saving money to buy 40 sheep and a house in the village. He worked hard like everyone else to realize his dream.
The first generation worked in factories, in agriculture, and in all the places where there was a shortage of labor. In this way, they helped build our Denmark.
Today, the new generation is active in all areas of society. They respond as police officers when there is unrest on the streets, they extinguish fires in our buildings as firefighters, and they keep us healthy as doctors, nurses, and dental hygienists. They are involved in cancer treatment research. They clean your computer of viruses and they clean our offices, care for our elderly, and raise our children in institutions. They are active in politics, in the media, and in finance. We are part of Denmark, and the vast majority proudly contribute to the community.
Tonight, we see only a small sample of these contributions. I would like to extend a special welcome to the minorities from many walks of life who have gathered here today.
Our Denmark is a country made up of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, Buddhists, Alevis, and atheists. And the purpose of tonight is to celebrate diversity.
Therefore, it is in the spirit of diversity and reflection that I welcome you to this iftar.
On Thursday, April 24, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.,Brobyggerne will hold its general meeting at the Red Cross premises at Blegdamsvej 27, 2100 Copenhagen Ø.
We therefore invite all members to attend the general meeting.
To ensure that we have enough coffee for everyone, please register for the general meeting by clicking here, preferably by April 16 at the latest.
Agenda for the general meeting
Election of conductor
Selection of rapporteur
The board's report on the association's activities over the past year is presented.
Approval of accounts
Setting of quota
Proposals received
Election to the board and/or alternates
Choosing an auditor
Possibly
Proposals for consideration under item 6 and nominations for a board position under item 7 must be received by the chair no later than 14 days before the general meeting, cf. § 5.4 of the articles of association. Proposals can be sent to kathrine@brobyggerne.dk. You can read the association's articles of association here.
No later than seven days before the general meeting, we will send out all the material to be discussed at the general meeting via a newsletter. The material will also be available on our website.
Presentation by this year's award winner
We will end the day with an exciting presentation by this year's recipient of the Bent Melchior Award, Sarah Smed. Sarah Smed is the director of the Danish Welfare Museum in Svendborg and a passionate advocate. Read more here.
Approximately half an hour has been set aside for the presentation and half an hour for follow-up questions and dialogue.
Would you rather spend the fall working for an active NGO than sitting in a lecture hall? Are you interested in social issues, and do you see a need for greater democratic participation and better dialogue between population groups? Would you like to gain experience with NGO work in methodology, planning, and project work? Then you might be our new academic intern.
Brobyggerne was established to strengthen dialogue and democratic discourse in Denmark. We initiate projects and develop tools that strengthen dialogue and thus democracy, both among individuals and in organizations and institutions. You can read more about us at www.brobyggerne.dk.
As an intern with us, you will gain experience as an academic employee in a rapidly developing NGO. You will be part of a small but ambitious team consisting of five full-time employees and two student assistants. At the beginning of 2024, we launched Grøn Dialogkaffe (Green Dialogue Coffee), which you will be part of and help to shape and run. The project's target group is students at secondary schools. In addition, there will be various tasks related to Brobyggerne's other projects, such as Fordomsbryderne (Prejudice Breakers) and dialogue projects at primary school level.
Your tasks:
We want your tasks to reflect your interests and skills, but you will be working with, among other things:
Assist in planning and implementing project activities, e.g., courses and theme weeks
Contribute to project development and/or start-up of new sub-projects
Documentation of project activities and evaluation
Production of content for Brobyggerne's social media and website
Ad hoc tasks in the association – in everyday life, we help each other across the board in the office
We are looking for someone who:
Are enrolled in a relevant higher education program from which you have methodological qualifications
Either have experience with social media communication or want to learn about it
Looking for an internship where you can take responsibility and have an impact on your work
Terms and conditions for the internship:
The internship is 30-37 hours per week, starting on August 15 and continuing until the end of the semester. We will, of course, take into account your need to attend classes and write your internship report. Please note that the dates and length of the internship period are indicative and subject to change.
The internship meets the requirements for an ECTS-accredited internship.
Brobyggerne is an activist and visionary organization with over 10,000 members, where each individual contribution is of great importance to our association and working community. We love to discuss highly topical issues and laugh together, even when we are busy. We are based in central Copenhagen and share facilities with other cross-cultural organizations.
Application
Application deadline is June 1, 2025. We are conducting interviews on an ongoing basis, so please send your application right away. Send a short cover letter and CV to ansogning@brobyggerne.dk. Write "Project Intern" in the subject field.
If you have any questions, please contact Project Manager Kathrine Predstrup at kathrine@brobyggerne.dk or , tel. 2234 6838.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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