Eid al-Fitr: How Muslims celebrated the holiday

ISTANBUL (AP) — Muslims all over the world celebrated the Eid al-Fitr vacation Wednesday, marking the top of the holy month of Ramadan. However occasions have been overshadowed by the worsening disaster in Gaza and Israel’s anticipated army offensive in Rafah metropolis after six months of warfare.

“We must always not neglect our brothers and sisters in Palestine,” one imam, Abdulrahman Musa, stated in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. “They’ve been subjected to unjustified aggression and lots of violence (as) the world is watching in silence.”

In a vacation message, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan despatched assist to Gaza, which he known as a “bleeding wound on the conscience of humanity.”

In Istanbul, a number of the 1000’s of worshipers on the Aya Sofya Mosque carried Palestinian flags and chanted slogans in assist of residents of Gaza, the place the United Nations warns that greater than 1,000,000 individuals are at risk of imminent famine and little help is allowed in.

Inside Gaza, there was little pleasure. Palestinians within the refugee camp of Jabaliya close to Gaza Metropolis mourned family members among the many over 33,000 killed in Israel’s offensive in response to Hamas’s lethal Oct. 7 assault in Israel.

Om Nidal Abu Omeira sat alone amongst bombed-out buildings and wept on the grave of her mom, son-in-law, and grandson. All have been killed in Israel’s offensive.

“They (the kids) maintain saying, ‘I miss my father, the place is he?’ I inform them that he’s in heaven,” she instructed The Related Press. “They begin crying, after which I begin crying with them.”

Elsewhere, folks have been grateful for the a lot they’d after a month of fasting and reflection. Earlier than the vacation, markets all over the world teemed with consumers. Residents poured out of cities to return to villages to have fun with family members.

In Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, practically three-quarters of the inhabitants have been touring for the annual homecoming identified domestically as “mudik.”

“This can be a proper second to reconnect, like recharging vitality that has been drained virtually a 12 months away from dwelling,” stated civil servant Ridho Alfian.

Jakarta’s Istiqlal Grand Mosque, the most important in Southeast Asia, was flooded with devotees. Preachers of their sermons known as on folks to hope for Muslims in Gaza.

“That is the time for Muslims and non-Muslims to point out humanitarian solidarity, as a result of the battle in Gaza is just not a non secular warfare, however a humanitarian downside,” stated Jimly Asshiddiqie, who chairs the advisory board of the Indonesian Mosque Council.

In Berlin, worshipers mirrored the world, coming from Benin, Ghana, Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey.

“It’s a day the place we really feel grateful for every little thing we’ve right here, and suppose and provides to those that are poor, going through warfare and must go hungry,” stated Azhra Ahmad, a 45-year-old mom of 5.

In Pakistan, authorities deployed greater than 100,000 police and paramilitary forces to keep up safety at mosques and marketplaces.

In Malaysia, ethnic Malay Muslims carried out morning prayers at mosques nationwide simply weeks after socks printed with the phrase “Allah” at a comfort retailer chain sparked a furor. Many discovered it offensive.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim known as for unity and reconciliation, saying no teams ought to be sidelined based mostly on faith or every other motive.

In Russia, worshipers gathered as their leaders vowed loyalty to fellow residents amid tensions following final month’s assault by an extremist group on a music corridor exterior Moscow through which 130 folks have been killed. The Islamic State group’s Afghanistan affiliate claimed duty.

“As our nation’s president, Vladimir Putin, stated, terrorism has neither a nationality nor a faith, the chairman of the Council of Muftis in Russia stated. “We name to unite towards the risk, towards these darkish forces.”

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Karmini contributed from Jakarta together with Related Press journalists all over the world.