Up to 30,000 people gathered in a Birmingham park today to celebrate Eid, marking the conclusion of Ramadan’s fasting period. The event unfolded in Small Heath Park, located in the city center, as throngs of people arrived early Friday morning to participate in communal prayers, commemorating the end of the holy month during which Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn until dusk.

Organized by Birmingham’s Green Lane Mosque, this year’s celebration attracted families from across the Midlands, with an estimated attendance ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 individuals. The commencement of Eid al-Fitr was marked by collective prayers, setting the stage for a day filled with jubilant festivities including a fairground, food stalls, and various entertainment options.

This vibrant celebration comes on the heels of a controversy involving the Conservative Party. Earlier this week, a senior Tory figure caused a stir by describing a mass Muslim prayer event in Trafalgar Square as an ‘act of domination and division.’ In response, London Mayor Sadiq Khan countered shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy’s comments by sharing images of religious gatherings from various faiths, including Christianity, held in the square over the past year.

The start of Eid al-Fitr saw those gathered share in prayers, before joyous celebrations featuring a fairground, food stands and entertainment.

It comes after the Conservative Party was drawn into a row this week after a senior Tory claimed on Wednesday that a mass Muslim prayer event in Trafalgar Square was an ‘act of domination and division’.

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan responded to shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy by sharing images of various other religions, including Christians, hosting similar religious gatherings at the square over the past year.

On Thursday Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch ignored calls to sack the MP over his controversial claims and accused the Prime Minister of ‘sucking up’ to the Muslim community.

Friday’s event in Birmingham began with the Eid Prayer, or Salah, at 9am. Afterwards, families and friends celebrated together in the park. 

Huge crowds descended on Small Heath Park in the city centre early on Friday morning to take part in prayer to mark the end of Ramadan, which sees Muslims fast from dawn to dusk

Two women hug one another during a celebration of Eid al-Fitr at Birmingham’s Small Heath Park on Friday

But the numbers in attendance led to traffic chaos in the surrounding areas, with cars being left parked in an obstructive manner in surrounding roads.

West Midlands Roads has issued warnings over heavy traffic in areas including the A45, Coventry Road and Golden Hillock Road.

Congestion remains in the area around Small Heath Park as increased parking, narrow roads and the number of people in attendance meant there are more vehicles than usual trying to navigate the town centre. 

In a statement, Birmingham Council said: ‘We’re working closely with West Midlands Police and local partners to ensure that communities can celebrate Chaand Raat and Eid‑Al‑Fitr safely and enjoyably.

‘Our environmental health, trading standards, neighbourhood enforcement and parking teams will be out in key areas including Ladypool Road, Stratford Road and Alum Rock Road.

‘Together with police colleagues, we’ll be tackling issues such as noise, parking and nuisance vehicles to support a safe celebration for everyone. Wishing all who are celebrating a peaceful and joyful Eid.’

The celebrations in Birmingham follow the Conservative Party being drawn into a row following comments from the shadow justice secretary.

Taking to X on Wednesday, Nick Timothy shared a photo of an Eid celebration in Trafalgar Square, central London, and wrote: ‘Mass ritual prayer in public places is an act of domination.

A family poses for photographs at Small Heath Park, where between 20,000 and 30,000 people were expected to gather today

The start of Eid ul Fitr saw those gathered share in prayers, before joyous celebrations featuring a fairground, food stands and entertainment

‘Perform these rituals in mosques if you wish. But they are not welcome in our public places and shared institutions.’ 

Responding to the comment, Labour Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan shared images of similar events for religious festivals Easter, Diwali, Vaisakhi and Chanukah – against which Timothy does not seem to have objected.

Khan added: ‘London is, and will always be, a place for everyone’.

At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer described Timothy’s comments as ‘utterly appalling’ and called on the Tory leader to ‘sack him’ as shadow justice secretary.

But the Tory leader defended Mr Timothy’s comments on Thursday and said that we need to ensure religious expression is in line with British ‘values, norms and beliefs’.

After a speech to launch the Conservatives’ local election campaign, she said: ‘This is a country that has always tolerated minority faiths and allowed people, including people of ethnic minorities, to live freely.

‘But this debate which Nick is having is not about freedom of religion. It is about how religion is expressed in a shared public space, and whether those expressions fit within the norms of a British culture.’

But Badenoch countered: ‘As a woman, and especially as a woman from an ethnic minority who grew up in a country where Islam was very visible, I’m very uncomfortable with seeing women pushed to the back in the middle of Trafalgar Square in an event which is exclusionary.

‘This is not about stopping anyone from any religion from practicing their faith. We want to see religious festivities in Trafalgar Square, but they have to be inclusive and also respect British culture.’

Yesterday Timothy doubled down on his comments, writing on X: ‘I will not be silenced. Labour are only demonstrating that they cannot see right from wrong.

‘They will not stand up for our way of life. But we will’. 

Labour last night accused the Tory leader of ‘cowardice on confronting anti-Muslim hostility in her party’, and said her party is ‘adopting Tommy Robinson endorsed views’.