+ A
A -
DPA
Cairo
Egyptian authorities have banned public charity banquets, an age-old feature of the Islamic month of Ramadan, in an effort to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, state media reported on Sunday.
Benefactors in Egypt have the tradition of hosting such banquets, which offer free meals to the needy at break of daily fast at sunset - known as “iftar” - in Ramadan.
The ninth month of Islam’s lunar calendar, Ramadan is to start this month amid growing concerns in Muslim countries that the pandemic will impact its observance.
The Ministry of Awqaf, responsible for mosques in mostly Muslim Egypt, said it would not permit fast-breaking or iftar charity tables this Ramadan around mosques.
“We call on all benefactors, charity associations and other bodies who used to set up the iftar tables in the holy month in the past to offer their charity in the form of cash or food items to the poor and those in need this year,” the ministry said in a statement.
Last month, Egypt closed mosques as a precaution against the virus, which has infected 1,070 people and caused 71 deaths.
It is not clear if mosques will reopen in Ramadan, when they are traditionally packed.
Cairo
Egyptian authorities have banned public charity banquets, an age-old feature of the Islamic month of Ramadan, in an effort to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, state media reported on Sunday.
Benefactors in Egypt have the tradition of hosting such banquets, which offer free meals to the needy at break of daily fast at sunset - known as “iftar” - in Ramadan.
The ninth month of Islam’s lunar calendar, Ramadan is to start this month amid growing concerns in Muslim countries that the pandemic will impact its observance.
The Ministry of Awqaf, responsible for mosques in mostly Muslim Egypt, said it would not permit fast-breaking or iftar charity tables this Ramadan around mosques.
“We call on all benefactors, charity associations and other bodies who used to set up the iftar tables in the holy month in the past to offer their charity in the form of cash or food items to the poor and those in need this year,” the ministry said in a statement.
Last month, Egypt closed mosques as a precaution against the virus, which has infected 1,070 people and caused 71 deaths.
It is not clear if mosques will reopen in Ramadan, when they are traditionally packed.
