Islamic world celebrates Eid al-Fiter
Regional, Religion, 11/26/2003

Hundreds of millions of Muslims along the Islamic world performed Eid al-fiter prayers yesterday, after the majority of the Arab and Islamic countries announced that Tuesday was the first day of Eid al-Fiter.

Sides concerned of al-Ifta houses and ministries of al-Awqaf in each of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Yemen, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Syria, Lebanon Palestine, Oman and Bahrain announced yesterday ( Tuesday) as the first day of Shawal ( Hijra calendar ).

In Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak yesterday morning performed Eid al-Fiter prayers in Sharm Esh Sheikh Mosque on the Red Sea in his first public appearance since the health trouble he had while he was delivering a speech in the parliament on November 19. Mubarak who seemed in scenes broadcast by the Egyptian official TV arrived late into the al-Salam mosque.

In Iraq, the Iraqis celebrated for the first time Eid al-Fiter in the absence of the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. It is also the first time they celebrate the Eid under the American occupation.

With the spread of the American inspection points on the main roads in the capital Baghdad following a series of grave attacks by the resistance, the Iraqis lost the joys of the holiday. One Iraqi said "I do not think of it as an Eid, only if the Americans leave and a new government is formed with the imposition of the law and the order, every day will be an Eid."

In Indonesia, the most populous Islamic country, millions of Muslims returned back to their villages to celebrate Eid al-Fiter, following one month of fasting during which attacks and threats in other parts of the world took place.

However, the Indonesian police saw no increase in the risks. The spokesman for the Indonesian police, Baseir Ahmad Barmawi, said "we do not see any increase in the risks, according to our recent analysis." Despite this, the Indonesian authorities deployed 130,000 policemen to ensure the security of Eid al-Fiter vacation and care was especially focused on the populated Jawa island.

In Algeria, the office of the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Butaflika announced that the president pardoned 3080 persons who committed small crime on the fall of Eid al-Fiter.

The Algerian official news agency quoted a statement issued by the office of the president that the pardoning did not include prisoners who spend penalties over crimes of what is called terrorism or destruction, corruption, drug trafficking or rape.

Previous Stories:
  Sadness prevails Eid al-Fiter celebrations   (11/25/2003)
  King Mohammed congratulates Muslim leaders on Ramadan   (10/28/2003)
  Conference on the role of Quran in disseminating education for all   (10/1/2003)

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