10- April-2024- News Agencies
Muslims around the world have celebrated Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, with prayer, reunions with family and friends, new clothes and sweet treats.
But the celebrations on Wednesday were overshadowed by the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and Israel’s threatened ground offensive in the southernmost city of Rafah with no let-up in the six-month war.
In Istanbul, thousands of worshippers gathered at the Hagia Sofia mosque for morning Eid prayers, some carrying Palestinian flags and chanting slogans in support of people in Gaza.
In his holiday message, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed support for Gaza, which he called a “bleeding wound on the conscience of humanity”.
“I hope that the Eid will lead to peace, tranquillity and wellbeing for our country, our nation, the Islamic world and all humanity,” he said.
The war in Gaza was also the focus of prayers at the Rahma mosque in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
Mogadishu: The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, led the Eid prayer at the Islamic Union Mosque, the Somali people, officials and government officials.
On the occasion of Eid, the President congratulated the commanders, officers, soldiers and families of the Armed Forces, who are working to ensure the security of the country and eliminate terrorism.
Muslims perform Eid prayers on a field in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. It is customary to eat something sweet before the prayer. This particular festival is known as the ‘sweet’ Eid – and the distribution of sweets is common across the Muslim world. [Firdia Lisnawati/AP
Muslim women pray at the historic Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan. Traditionally, Eid is celebrated for three days as an official holiday in Muslim-majority countries. However, the number of holiday days varies by nation. [KM Chaudary/AP Photo]
Muslim women offer Eid al-Fitr prayers to mark the end of Ramadan in Nairobi, Kenya. [Brian Inganga/AP
