GLASGOW – A humanitarian aid charity will kick off a Ramadan fundraising event in Glasgow City Chambers next week to provide food, medical assistance and emergency aid to those in need in war-torn Syria.

“We are really excited about our event in Glasgow,” Othman Moqbel, Chief Executive of Human Appeal, told Glasgow Live on Wednesday, May 18.

“The Muslim community in Scotland have been huge supporters of Human Appeal’s work and we look forward to thanking them with this event.”

Humanitarian Aid charity Human Appeal will launch its campaign during an event in Glasgow City Chambers on May 23.

The charity is currently working in Syria and providing food, medical assistance and emergency aid to those in need.

Speakers at the launch event in Glasgow will include Lord Provost Sadie Docherty MSP Humza Yousaf, Anas Sarwar and Councillor Mohammed Razaq.

There will be the opportunity to hear about Human Appeal’s life-saving work in Syria.

“Last year we reached over five million people around the world, from helping people grow crops in Palestine, to providing clean water in Pakistan,” Moqbel said.

“This year we celebrate 25 years of Human Appeal – a milestone which we have reached with the help of our supporters in Scotland.”

Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, kicks-off on June 6.

In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint and good deeds.

It is customary for Muslims to spend part of the days during Ramadan studying the Noble Qur’an.

Many men perform i`tikaf (spiritual retreat), spending the last 10 days of the month exclusively in the mosque.

Britain is home to a Muslim community of nearly 2.8 million.

In 2011, think tank Demo found that Muslims in the United Kingdom are more patriotic than the rest of population.

Responding to the statement “I am proud to be a British citizen”, 83% of Muslims said they are proud of being British.

During Ramadan the British Muslim community usually raises in excess of £100 million for charity.