Eid al-Fitr

A group of friends who live in Turkey's different cities and are unable to get together due to the novel coronavirus outbreak have met during an online iftar dinner, breaking their fasts together.

From canceled iftar feasts to suspended mosque prayers, Muslims across the world are weathering a solitary month of Ramadan, fasting as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic lingers.

A man, who runs a company that takes care of and looks after tombs, is offering a virtual tour of cemeteries in the southern province of Antalya as people cannot go out because of restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The government considers easing curfew restrictions for elderly people at the age of 65 and over, Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın said on May 2.

"Our president may have some good news on [May 4]. The opinion of the Science Board is to ensure that the group of 65 and older is going outside on certain days and hours," he said, speaking to the TV 24 broadcaster.

Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew on April 25, greeted the Muslim holy month of Ramadan with wishes of health, peace and tranquility.

"We pray that Allah will accept your fasts and prayers," he said. "We wish you to celebrate your holy Ramadan feast with enthusiasm and love a month hence."

Today is the first day of the Holy month - Ramadan. The Muslim abstinence period preceding Ramadan Bayram's big religious holiday will be marked by a state of emergency this year.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.

Amid the lockdown on all places of worship and the restrictions on gatherings, the General Secretariat for Religion has issued instructions to Greece's Muslim residents for the duration of Ramadan, which started on Thursday and ends on May 23.
Accordingly, prayers during Ramadan can be performed at home.

Turkey's Interior Ministry issued a circular on April 22 on measures that will be taken against the novel coronavirus during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

According to the circular, events as well as tents where people gather for iftar, or breaking their fast, which may attract large groups of people will not be allowed.

From canceled iftar feasts to suspended mosque prayers, Muslims across the Middle East are bracing for a bleak month of Ramadan fasting as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic lingers.

Turkey is set to bring back about 25,000 citizens from 59 countries for the holy month of Ramadan, Vice President Fuat Oktay has announced.

"With the orders of our President, we launched a large-scale operation to bring back about 25,000 of our citizens from 59 countries for them to spend the month of Ramadan and the holiday with their families," Oktay said in a tweet.

Turkey's tourism season is expected to postpone until after-May period due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country's culture and tourism minister said on April 2. 

"Hopefully, we will see that tourism activities will start again during the Ramadan Feast," Mehmet Nuri Ersoy noted.
Eid ul-Fitr, or Ramadan Feast, will be celebrated at the end of this May in 2020.