Prayers among the rubble: Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr in subdued fashion as airstrikes hit Gaza and Covid keeps mosques closed
- Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan
- Celebrations in many countries are subdued for the second year running, amid the coronavirus pandemic
- Mass prayers took place in Pakistan, but Indonesia closed many mosques due to fears of infection
- Meanwhile fighting in Gaza also means celebrations are taking place amid bombed-out buildings today
Muslims celebrated Eid al-Fitr in a subdued mood for a second year Thursday as the COVID-19 pandemic again forced mosque closings and family separations on the holiday marking the end of Ramadan.
In the embattled Gaza Strip, the call to prayer echoed over pulverized buildings and heaps of rubble as Israeli warplanes continued to pound the territory in the worst outbreak of violence since the 2014 war.
Hamas, the Islamic militant group ruling Gaza, urged the faithful to mark communal prayers inside their homes or the nearest mosques and avoid being out in the open.
‘It is all airstrikes, destruction and devastation,’ said Hassan Abu Shaaban, who tried to lighten the mood by passing out chocolates to passersby.
GAZA: Palestinians pray at dawn amid the ruins of bombed-out building in Beit Lahia, Gaza, as Eid al-Fitr celebrations take place amid fighting between Israel and Hamas
GAZA: An Islamic cleric hugs a young man following morning prayers on Eid al-Fitr in Beit Lahia, Gaza, which has been hit by Israeli bombing in recent days
GAZA: A Palestinian man takes a photo with his son on the rooftop of a building in Beit Lahia, surrounded by buildings that have been destroyed by Israeli airstrikes
JERUSALEM: A Palestinian man sprays foam at Muslims worshippers as they gather at the Noble Sanctuary – known to Jews as Temple Mount – compound in Jerusalem to celebrate Eid al-Fitr
JERUSALEM: Muslim men wave a Palestinian flag and unfurl a banner covered in pro-Palestinian slogans in front of the Dome of the Rock, the holiest site in Judaism, during Eid celebrations in Jerusalem today
JERUSALEM: A Palestinian man does a back flip in front of Damascus Gate, one of the entrances to Jerusalem’s Old City, and the site of recent clashes with Israeli security forces amid Eid al-Fitr celebrations
Worshippers wearing masks joined communal prayers in the streets of Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta.
The world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation allowed mosque prayers in low-risk areas, but mosques in areas where there was more risk of the virus spreading closed their doors, including Jakarta’s Istiqlal Grand Mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia.
Indonesians and Malaysians were banned for a second year from traveling to visit relatives in the traditional Eid homecoming.
In Bangladesh, however, tens of thousands of people were leaving the capital, Dhaka, to join their families back in their villages for Eid celebrations despite a nationwide lockdown and road checkpoints.
Experts fear a surge in cases in a country grappling with a shortage of vaccines and fear of Indian variants of the coronavirus spreading.
‘I understand that we all miss our relatives at times like this, especially in the momentum of Eid,’ Indonesian President Joko Widodo said in televised remarks. ‘But let’s prioritize safety together by not going back to our hometowns.’
Despite the similar ban a year ago, the number of daily cases in Indonesia had picked up by 37% three weeks after the holiday. Similar patterns followed other holidays in the country that has counted 1.7 million infections and more than 47,600 fatalities from COVID-19.
The Jakarta governor also ordered malls, restaurants and leisure destinations usually packed during the holiday period to shut.
With no congregational prayers at mosques, no family reunions, no relatives bearing gifts and cookies for children, ‘Eid is not a grand event anymore,’ Jakarta resident Maysa Andriana said.
‘The pandemic has changed everything… this is too sad!’ she said.
While police set up highway checkpoints and domestic flights and other modes of transportation were suspended, anxiety lingers that people will defy the prohibition.
Television reports showed city dwellers hiding on disguised trucks or fishing boats and officers at roadblocks being overwhelmed by desperate motorists.
‘We followed the government decision that banned us visiting my parents for Eid last year, it’s enough! Nothing can stop me now,’ said factory worker Askari Anam, who used alleys and shortcuts to avoid being stopped from visiting his hometown.
INDONESIA: The world’s most-populous Muslim nation allowed some mosques to open for Eid prayers provided social distancing remained in place (pictured, prayers at Al Akbar Mosque in Surabaya) but closed many others
INDONESIA: Prayers take place with social distancing in place at Al Akbar Mosque in Surabaya, Indonesia, though the country closed many other mosques including its largest, Jakarta’s Istiqlal Grand Mosque
INDONESIA: Socially-distanced prayers take place at Al Akbar Mosque in Surabaya, Indonesia, marking the start of the Eid al-Fitr holiday at the end of Ramadan
‘Of course I’m worried,’ he said when asked about possibly contracting the virus. ‘But I leave it to God.’
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin expressed concern of a virus spike and feared people would travel despite the ban.
In the southern Philippines, coronavirus outbreaks and new fighting between government forces and Muslim insurgents in one province prevented people from holding large public prayers.
Instead, most hunkered down in their homes, while in Maguindanao province, many families displaced by recent fighting marked the holiday in evacuation camps.
In Malaysia, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin unexpectedly announced another nationwide lockdown from Wednesday until June 7 to curb a spike in cases.
Inter-state travel and all social activities are banned, which means that like in Indonesia, Muslims cannot visit each other or family graves.
Muhyiddin acknowledged that many are angry with the lockdown but defended the need for drastic measures, saying hospitals have almost reached their capacity.
Malaysia reported 4,765 cases on Wednesday, pushing its tally to 453,222, nearly fourfold from the start of the year. Deaths also rose to 1,761.
‘Is this government tyrannical? But I am not a tyrant,’ Muhyiddin said, ‘Imagine if you have guests over, then the virus will spread. … If the guest visits 10 homes, then 10 families will be infected with COVID-19 and in the end as soon as (Eid) ends, the number of positive cases in the country could jump to tens of thousands daily.’
TURKEY
People take part in the Eid al-Fitr prayer amid a coronavirus lockdown outside the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul
People take part in the Eid al-Fitr prayer amid a coronavirus lockdown outside the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
People gather inside Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque to perform prayers on Eid al-Fitr
Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate Ali Erbas gives a speech during Eid al-Fitr prayers in Istanbul, Turkey
People wearing protective face masks and maintaining social distancing perform the Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara, Turkey
IRAN
Iranian Muslims perform the morning parayer on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Tehran
Iranian Muslim women perform Eid al-Fitr prayers in western Tehran
A cleric chants slogan during a pro-Palestinian demonstration after Eid al Fitr prayers in Tehran, Iran
A worshipper chants slogan during a pro-Palestinian demonstration after Eid al Fitr prayers in Tehran, Iran
JORDAN
People attend Eid al-Fitr prayers marking the end of the month of Ramadan, at Baqaa refugee camp near Amman, Jordan
People attend Eid al-Fitr prayers marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, at Baqaa refugee camp near Amman
A man gestures as he attends a demonstration to express solidarity with the Palestinian people during the first day of Eid al-Fitr, that marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at Baqaa refugee camp near Amman, Jordan
EGYPT
Muslims perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer within precautions against Covid at Amr Bin As Mosque in Cairo
Muslims perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer within precautions against Covid at Amr Bin As Mosque in Cairo
A young Muslim boy takes part in dawn prayers marking the start of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday at the end of the month-long Ramadan fast, at a mosque in Cairo, Egypt
INDIA
Girls walk along with their mother on Eid-al-Fitr day in Srinagar, in the Indian-administered part of Jammu and Kashmir, as authorities further tightened curfew restrictions today
: People offer Eid prayers while maintaining social distance in Srinagar, in the Indian-administered part of Jammu and Kashmir
eople offer Eid prayers while maintaining social distance in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
An assault rifle hangs from the shoulder of a policeman near a check point in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
KOSOVO
Muslims attend a morning prayer session to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, at the Grand Mosque in Pristina, Kosovo
Muslims attend a morning prayer session to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, at the Grand Mosque in Pristina, Kosovo
A Kosovar Muslim attends a morning prayer session to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, at the Grand Mosque in Pristina, Kosovo
RUSSIA
Russian service members and cadets attend the morning prayers to celebrate Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan in the Kul Sharif Mosque in Kazan, Russia
Muslims attend the morning prayers to celebrate Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan in the Kul Sharif Mosque in Kazan, Russia
Muslims pray in Cathedral Mosque during celebrations of Eid al-Fitr, in Moscow, Russia, with stickers on the floor indicating correct social distancing aqmid the Covid pandemic
BOSNIA
Bosnian Muslims, wearing face masks to protect themselves from Covid by wearing face masks, take part in Eid al-Fitr prayers in Konjic, Bosnia
Bosnian Muslims, wearing face masks to protect themselves from Covid by wearing face masks, take part in Eid al-Fitr prayers in Konjic, Bosnia
Bosnian Muslims attend a morning prayer session to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, in Gazi Husrev Bay’s Mosque in Sarajevo, Bosnia
CHINA
Chinese worshippers participate in Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of Ramadan, at the Niujie Mosque in Beijing
Chinese worshippers participate in Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of Ramadan, at the Niujie Mosque in Beijing
Chinese worshippers participate in Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of Ramadan, at the Niujie Mosque in Beijing
BRITAIN
A worshipper at the Leeds Makkah Mosque in Yorkshire, England, ahead of the start of Eid al-Fitr
Worshippers observe social distancing during the Isha evening prayers at the Baitul Futuh Mosque, in Morden, London
A Muslim man wearing a high-vis jacket takes part in prayers to mark the start of Eid al-Fitr in Birmingham, England, today
Worshippers at Green Lane Mosque in Birmingham take part in a prayer sitting to celebrate the start of Eid al-Fitr
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