Eid al-Adha celebrations began at dawn for Shiites in Iraq, marked by different rituals throughout this first day, including the sacrifice in some families of the sheep. If sacrificing the animal is not obligatory, sharing it is. In the country where the economic situation is complicated, the holidays are held under the sign of solidarity.
From our correspondent in Iraq, Marie-Charlotte Rupee
First prayer of the day, at the Shiite Buratha Mosque in Baghdad pto celebrate Eid al-Adha. Dates and pastries are exchanged outside. For Ahmed Ibrahim, this sharing and mutual aid are part of the celebration: “ Supporting the disadvantaged is one of the rituals. It started with Prophet Ibrahim when he wanted to sacrifice his son, but God replaced him with a sheep. It has become a Muslim ritual “.
A third of the meat from a sacrificed sheep must be distributed to underprivileged populations. It is the rule. In the Habibiya district, the sidewalks are overrun with sheep. Saleh Salem intends to respect the tradition, but it is not so easy: “ We will sacrifice the sheep And we will distribute it to families in our neighborhood. But now it has become very expensive. The kilo costs nearly 20,000 dinars. »
Faced with excessively high prices, others turn to NGOs, such as the Henrick association, in Sadr City. She distributes meat and clothing. Widowed and mother of seven children, Fatma waits in line. : “ Because the clothes are expensive and my income is too low, I cannot meet all their needs. “.
Donations are quickly distributed. The association notes an increase in the number of people coming each year.
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