Ramadan starts as Muslim world see more cases
Jakarta – Surging coronavirus cases in many parts of the world overshadowed the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan yesterday, with festivities curtailed by contagion fears.
Europe has passed the threshold of one million Covid-19 deaths, while South Asian countries battle a spiralling outbreak of the disease that has crippled the global economy.
Vaccination drives are giving hope to people fed up with restrictions that are well into a second year, and India – which is experiencing a record surge in cases – was given a boost as it authorised Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 drug.
The death toll is approaching three million, according to an AFP tally of official data, as the World Health Organisation warned infections are rising exponentially despite efforts aimed at stopping them.
From Indonesia to Egypt, many Muslims around the world started Ramadan after religious leaders confirmed the month of fasting would begin yesterday, though restrictions on worshippers varied from country to country.
Jakarta’s newly renovated Istiqlal Mosque – southeast Asia’s largest – welcomed congregants for the first time on Monday night after more than a year of closure because of the pandemic.
Mohamad Fathi, a resident of the Indonesian capital, told AFP this year’s Ramadan was happier than in 2020, when people were banned from taking part in tarawih, or evening, prayers.
“Last year it was gloomy as we were not allowed to go to the mosque for tarawih prayers,” he said. “But this year, I am so happy finally we can go to the mosque to perform tarawih prayers, although we are under strict health protocol.”
The government of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation has imposed limits, with mosques only able to host congregants at a maximum of 50% capacity.
Worshippers in Indonesia are required to wear masks and bring their own prayer mats. Several regions have banned gathering for fast-breaking. Religious leaders have encouraged people to pray at home in certain zones where virus cases are spiking.
Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest shrines, announced that the holy fasting month was to start yesterday, though authorities said only people immunised against Covid-19 will be allowed to perform the year-round umrah pilgrimage.
Pakistanis will only begin fasting today after rival moon-sighting committees agreed to a nationally applied start of what is called “Ramazan” in the country.
In India – home to 1.3 billion people – health officials have been battling a huge surge in cases in recent weeks that has prompted night curfews and a clampdown on movement and activities.