Muslims marked the start of the fasting month of Ramadan Saturday, but the global H1N1 pandemic has put a damper on religious festivities throughout the Middle East. “Everyone is worried about swine flu,” says Anwar Mohamed, a Yemeni antique dealer. “We have been told to avoid crowds, but everywhere there are crowds.”
As Islam’s holiest month, Ramadan is a time for prayer, fasting and communal activities. However, Kuwait’s Ministry of Health warned last week that the traditional increase in the number of Muslims attending mosques, religious lessons and other gatherings during Ramadan could facilitate the spread of swine flu. One option, according to the General Authority for Islamic Affairs, is shortening the duration of Friday sermons in mosques.
Egypt, the most populous country in the Arab world, began taking measures in July to limit the attendance of certain local religious events in an effort to curb the spread of swine flu among its 80 million people. Health officials and municipal authorities have ordered the cancellation or shortening of local Muslim and Christian festivals called moulids, which celebrate the birthday of a holy person. More than 1,000 of these annual celebrations take place each year in Egypt – the largest lasting a week and drawing over two million people.
via HEALTH: Swine Flu Hits Ramadan Gatherings – IPS ipsnews.net.