SYRIANS RECEIVE EID AL-FITR WITH PAIN OF WAR

Qamishli, Syria, 2 Shawwal 1435/29 July 2014 (MINA) – Eid al-Fitr, known as Feast of Breaking the Fast or Sugar Feast, revisits war-torn Syrian this year as people suffer under hard living conditions. 

Delshad Omar, resident of the northeastern city of Qamishli, told ARA News: “The Syrian crisis made people forget about joy of ceremonies.”

“We want to be happy for our children who do not understand grieve. We shall wish welfare and safety to our people on this day,” Omar said.

Muslims around the world started celebrating Eid al-Fitr on Monday, which marked the end of Ramadan month.

Ahmed Gandi, another resident of Qamishli, believes that each family has bid farewell to some of their members amid the three-year war, “which makes it difficult for people to celebrate such an occasion”.

“We hope to regain the joy of the Eid like old days,” Gandi expressed his optimism to ARA News.

“Eid al Fitr is an occasion to visit people we love and to change some of the reality we live in,” said Iman Othman from Qamishli.

With the approach of Eid al Fitr, Qamishli’s central market used to be overcrowded. “However, since the start of the ongoing war the scene has dramatically changed in Qamishli and other Syrian cities,” she said.

Speaking to ARA News, activist Faris Yasir said that the deteriorating living conditions and the security vacuum cannot be ignored in such an occasion.

“Unfortunately, people’s daily sufferings overshadowed the scene during the first day of Eid al-Fitr across Syria,” Yasir said. “Leave alone the increasing prices of goods and basic supplies.”

However, Islamic scientist Mullah Abdullah believes that Ramadan fasters could celebrate Eid al-Fitr despite the hard conditions in Syria.

“It’s God’s will that we go through all these hardships, this is a holy test to our willingness and determination. We should survive in spite of all difficulties caused by war, because life will continue anyway,” Mullah Abdullah told ARA News. “May god bless Syria and its people.” (T/P09/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)