In Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq, Muslims have begun to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, Friday 21 for Sunnis, Saturday 22 for the majority of Shiites.
The party has been darkened since 2020 at the Lebanon by the serious financial crisis. Food is now paid for with wads of cash, a sign of the currency plunge and hyperinflation. In the district of Tarek Jdide, in Beirut, residents do their last shopping for Eid el-Fitr. “ Everything changed. Customers no longer buy the quantities they used to, recount Mohamed who runs a coffee and confectionery store, at the microphone of our correspondent in Beirut, Laura Stephan. But they keep the desire to please their family, their children. These are our social traditions at the time of Fitr. At home, people buy coffee, because we serve coffee to visitors we receive during Fitr, And we also have sweets and chocolates, it is also an old tradition to offer some for this occasion. »
Thus, despite the crisis, there is no question for Rana, a teacher, not to celebrate. She shakes hands with her two young sons in new clothes, as is customary: I was able to offer them outfits for Eid, thank God. We are out, to exchange vows with the family, then have lunch outside, so that the children have fun. But everything is more expensive: clothes, food, pastries, everything ! »
In the street, smiling children crack firecrackers or parade with small new plastic games, but in front of mosques or pastries, beggars have become more numerous. Marwan, a father, says: “ Of course, people want to celebrate; but the financial situation in the country is difficult. Those who can mark the party are less numerous than before. Let’s hope that next year, Eid-ul-Fitr will be sweeter ! » On panels, posters of religious associations call for solidarity on the occasion of Fitr.
In Egypt, Sudanese worried despite the party
In a small street of Aïn Shams in the north of Cairo, the imam continues his Friday prayer, tells our correspondent in Cairo, Edouard Dropsy. Mohamed, scarred in the eye and leaning on a cane, returns home. He is from Khartoum and does not have the heart to celebrate: ” I’m not going to do anything special for Eid. I think of all the people who stayed there in Sudan, to those who died. I really don’t want to celebrate. »
At Abdul Malik, on the other hand, everything is ready to receive. “ That’s Aida, the Sudanese tradition of hospitality where cakes and juices are offered. A refugee for years, he is used to spending Eid-el-Fitr without his loved ones. But this one has a particularly bitter taste. “ I try to contact my family, but the internet is not working properly. Even on the phone, I can’t reach them. With what’s going on, I’m very worried and I don’t know what’s going on. This year, I really don’t want to celebrate Eid At the end of this holy month, his only wish is to stop the fighting and to know that his loved ones are safe.
Sad Eid-ul-Fitr in the Sudanese community in Cairo
A park accessible again in Baghdad for Eid
In Iraq, the authorities chose this day to reopen access to a park that had long been closed for security reasons. Hundreds of Baghdad residents combined the two occasions to celebrate. By bike or on foot, they are more than a hundred to discover the new park of Baghdad, reports our correspondent in Iraq, Marie-Charlotte Rupee. For Eid, they hoped to take advantage of the redeveloped banks of the Tigris. This part had been abandoned for years for security reasons, because right in front is the Green Zone and the main government institutions.
Suad came with her son on a bicycle. “ After the liberation of Daesh in 2017, the security situation gradually improved and became much better. But this place was closed and overgrown, very darkshe recalls. But now it’s filled with light, with a track for cyclists, which is great news. »
Muayed and his three children rushed to the playground. After the traditional family dinner, the children are honored to celebrate the end of Ramadan. The security context is also present in his mind. “ The security situation this year is drastically different from previous years, thank God our Eid is different. We have peace and security, we can feel safe to take the family out of the house. »
If this is not the case in all of Iraq, Baghdad is going through a period of relative calm. The shopping street of Karrada, in the center, closed in the past after attacks, is also open. This Saturday, it is the Shiites’ turn to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
In Baghdad, the joy of families after the reopening of a park