Sisi invites citizens to ‘Egyptian family’ iftar

CAIRO – 20 June 2017: As part of an annual event announced by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, the “Egyptian family” iftar will be held Tuesday and is presented by representatives of “all segments of society,” according to sources close to the president.

The Egyptian family iftar was announced as an annual Ramadan event when Sisi took office in 2014.

“The term ‘Egyptian family’ was chosen for this annual gathering as it reflects our traditions as Egyptians in Ramadan; we should use these holy days to remember our real identity away from any attempts to change the reality of who we are,” Sisi said during the annual gathering last Ramadan, on June 11, 2016.

A number of students, parliamentarians, politicians, athletes and artists are expected to be invited by the president to Tuesday’s iftar, along with the families of police and army martyrs, according to the sources.

Twenty-eight civilians from several governorates were invited by Sisi for an informal iftar gathering on June 18. “The invitation comes per the president's interest for the direct and frequent meetings with civilians to talk with them and listen to their problems and suggestions," the statement read.

On June 15, Sisi surprised security officers at a checkpoint in Cairo and ate iftar with them. The iftar meal was organized by the Armed Forces on the occasion of the Ramadan victory. He addressed a short statement to the men in attendance.

During the annual iftar Sisi held for women on June 4, he expressed his appreciation for the role Egyptian women play in political, social and economic life, and urged them to be patient with recent economic decisions the government has made.

Iftar is the meal when Muslims break their fast at dusk during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, after fasting since dawn.