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Kurdistan Region’s Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr amidst coronavirus lockdown

24-05-2020

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Sarkawt Mohammed @SarkawtMMarwan

ERBIL, Kurdistan — Numerous mosques in the Kurdistan Region opened their doors to worshippers for Eid al-Fitr prayer Sunday morning, ignoring government orders for a complete lockdown facing down resurging COVID-19 cases.

Sunday is the first day of Eid al-Fitr for most Muslims in the Kurdistan Region, whose residents are predominantly Sunni. The holiday is one of the most important celebrations in the Muslim calendar, marking the completion of the holy month of Ramadan. Visiting relatives and neighbours to exchange gifts and sweets is customary.

But with cases of the virus reemerging in Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced a full, 72-hour lockdown to be implemented across the Region on the first day of Eid al-Fitr.

“In all of the mosques in Sulaimani [city], which number to over 200 mosques, the Eid prayer was performed,” said Rudaw reporter Horvan Rafaat from the city in the east of the Kurdistan Region.

Although the Eid prayers were performed, mosques did not receive the crowds seen in previous years, reports Rafaat. Roads have also been left relatively deserted due to traffic bans, with security forces deployed to the streets to enforce the lockdown.

In the town of Kalar in Garmiyan administration, residents gathered in one of the quarter’s parks to perform their prayers.

Nawzad, one of the quarter’s residents, told Rudaw’s Halo Mohammed, “Due to the coronavirus lockdown, we decided to adhere to the instructions and not gather in mosques. Therefore, we congregated outside of mosques at a social distance. Even during Ramadan’s evening prayers of Ramadan, we adhered to the instructions to protect us from coronavirus.

Dr. Imad Guani, a mullah in Erbil, told Rudaw Sunday, “It was a bitter Eid for us. Some people came to our mosques to perform the Eid prayer, but unfortunately we had to send them back home, because we were instructed by the authorities not to allow gatherings in mosques.”

Guani, who holds a PhD in Islamic law, says it is not necessary to conduct Eid prayers in mosques.

“In the whole life of Prophet Mohammed, he performed one Eid prayer in the mosque because it was raining. Otherwise all Eid prayers were performed outside of the mosques.”

Erbil’s Bakhtiyari Mosque is one of the houses of worship that decided to open its doors to the public. Dr. Osman Halabjayi, a university lecturer and imam for the mosque lectured his congregation on the importance of forgiveness during the month of Ramadan at Eid prayer.

People out on the streets appear to be varied in the neighborhoods of Erbil. Rudaw’s reporter Farhad Dolamari says that it does not feel like Eid in the neighbourhood of Binasllawa

“Individuals are rarely seen outside. The streets are deserted and social visits are invisible,” reports Dolamari.

In contrast, people have taken to the streets in Erbil’s Badawa neighborhood. Although the effects of the curfew can be seen in the area, the people have come out from their homes to greet each other. Rudaw’s Sidad Lashkri says, “After Eid prayer, we came out around 6:00 am to celebrate the Eid. There is a good number of people coming out from their homes now, compared to other neighborhoods in Erbil which are currently deserted.”

Yusif Mousa, a Rudaw reporter in Duhok province’s Zakho district says that security forces were lenient to people wanting to pray at mosques.

“The doors of many mosques remained open, and the police and security stood out front of the mosques to give people instructions [on how to protect from the coronavirus],” said Mousa.

However, Mousa says Eid was very different from previous years in Zakho, with much less of a crowd at mosques and on the streets compared to previous years.

Photos of Eid al-Fitr prayer at Erbil’s Bakhtiyari Mosque Sunday morning, by Bilind T. Abdullah.