Religion

Afghans celebrate 1st Eid al-Fitr under Taliban government

Kabul, May 1 (EFE).- Afghans celebrated their first Eid under the new Taliban government in Afghanistan, this year’s celebration being different than others over the last 20 years.

Despite ongoing war and lack of security in the country over the past two decades, the people of Afghanistan nevertheless have warmly celebrated the Muslim holiday, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, but this time although the war has ended with a Taliban victory most of the people are not happy with the economic crisis besetting the country and the new theocratic government’s curtailment of basic rights.

“Despite our wish being fulfilled and the war being over, this Eid is not as colorful as previous years as economic crises, and depriving the people of their basic rights made us disappointed.” Sultan Khan, a community elder, told EFE.

Recent bombings, the serious economic crisis, the Taliban’s ban on educating girls, the limiting of work opportunities for women, social restrictions and significant political changes are the main causes of disappointment among the Afghan people.

Afghans say that they had dreamed of peace and an end to conflicts to improve their situation but not at the cost of losing the last 20 years of achievements, the implementation of the ban on education, the deep economic crisis and the curtailment of human rights.

“We were happy about the end of the war, but the recent explosion means that we don’t have … security. Definitely, we wanted an end to the conflicts in Afghanistan but not at the cost of losing the last 20 years of achievements,” Ms. Malalay, a teacher, told EFE

Afghanistan is the only Islamic country that so far has celibrated Eid, with the Taliban government announcing May 1, 2022, as the first day of Eid – one day prior to the start of the celebration in Saudi Arabia, for instance.

Afghanistan in recent years had celebrated the start of Eid as per Saudi Arabia’s official announcement of the commencement of the religious holiday.

Many Afghans both inside and outside the country hadn’t ever celebrated Eid under a Taliban announcement, and many say they believe that the Taliban are mixing politics with religious affairs.

In particular, some people are disgruntled because they say the decision when to begin celebrating the holiday was taken based on the political need to celebrate Eid before Saudi Arabia and thus not to allow people to complete the 30 required days of fasting, only 29 being completed so far in Afghanistan.

“With its modern technology, Saudi Arabia couldn’t see the moon as an indicator for announcing Eid, so how were the Taliban able to see the moon and announce Eid? I’m sure they’re just doing their politics even in religious affairs, unfortunately,” Musafer Kharotay, a religious scholar, told EFE, alluding to the fact that the beginning of Eid corresponds to a particular point on the monthly lunar calendar.

Some members of the Taliban leadership celebrated Eid in the Afghan Royal Garden (ARG) and presidential palace and delivered speeches at the Eid event. The prime minister of the Taliban government said, “This is a great time, given that we are celebrating Eid in the peaceful environment that our nation dreamed of,” adding that “We don’t want to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs.”

Despite the fears sparked by recent bomb blasts around Afghanistan, the first day of Eid in the country reportedly transpired without any security incidents.

Eid al-Fitr, also known as the “Festival of breaking of the fast,” is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan.

EFE

–/bp

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