It is. That magical time of the year that ends a 40-day 12-hour fast observance. Though I didn’t partake this year, I’ll be sure to be celebrating Eid. Especially since North America seems to be going mental over H1N1. Islands in BC are scared about the disease spreading far to thoroughly through the populace. Tourists have cut short their vacations.
Not so in countries with visibly large Muslim populations. Across the globe, people are pouring out to eat and be merry regardless of the hype. Celebrations in Indonesia, the UAE, Syria, Egypt and elsewhere have already been seen as some of the largest ever. It’s also been a time of inter-faith dialogue. IslamOnline had this excellent story about Hindus in India celebrating with Muslims.
I’ve managed to meet Muslims from shockingly different areas of the world during Ramadan. Amongst them was a Turko - one of the millions of Lebanese/Turkish/Syrians whose parents moved to South America following the many rounds of tension between those three countries. Turns out places like Brazil have pockets of Arab culture all over the place.
Ramadan hasn’t been all good things though. Of all the times to make such an announcement, the UN proclaimed over the holy month that both Israeli and Palestinian forces were guilty of war crimes over the past few years of strife in that area. As the Angry Arab said, the judge who handed down the sentence would be the sort who would find that both sides were guilty of war crimes even during the Warsaw Ghetto uprisings against the Nazis.
There are rumours on the streets that Israel, though iron-fisty about Palestine, might be relenting with regard to Iran: the Russian President heard from his counterpart in the Semitic state that there would be no raid on the Persian country. Then again, the word “raid” is a bit narrow. Nothing mentioned about missile strikes.
It’s a curious thing - Iran. You kind of cheer it on as the underdog taking on the western bullies, and yet you can’t sit by as it beats down internal discontent. Tens of thousands of protesters this week hijacked a government-organized anti-Israel protest and once again criticized the Iranian government itself. Even Grand Ayatollah Montazeri is voicing his concern over the country’s recent number of human rights abuses. Ahmedinejad is not making things easy for himself by running around congratulating the likes of puppet Afghan President Karzai on his “re-election.” Quite the opposite. It’s getting to the point that Tehran might even cut live football broadcasts after a recent tourney turned into one massive protest against the government.
The US was up to its usual business during the month as well, hunting down an al Shabab leader in Somalia in the name of keeping the world safe. Of course, al Shabab, which was so far concentrating on fighting the Somali government, has now sworn revenge on the US. Plus it distracts from the trials of CIA torturers.
A lot of governments were taking advantage of the month of fasting to take care of business. Indonesia took out a top militant working for Jamaah Islamiya. The Philippine govt. took over the lair of one of that country’s rebel groups. But, the rebels have been fighting back elsewhere in the world. Darfur rebels have resumed hostilities against the government and militias. Nigeria is expecting more violence from its northern rebels. China is blaming the recent slow-down in development in that nation on the Xinjiang protesters. Not to mention the number of ethnic riots going on - Uganda is in flames from the largest ethnic sect that is protesting against the president.
The very nature of Islam is changing much of the landscape. As much as Europeans fear it, Halal (ceremonially hand-slaughtered meat) is becoming a billion-dollar industry that is making its way to restaurants world-wide. Living in Vancouver, two blocks away from a Halal butcher, I have to say I’m okay about that. The taste and quality of Halal meat compared to supermarket fare is untouchable.
That being said, don’t run off to Saudi to have a Halal McChicken sandwich just yet. Figures show that Saudi tops the list on putting the most number of foreigners in prison.
Eid mubarak.
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