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The prime minister said people should follow the grand mufti's decision to wait until Saturday, but the parliament said Eid started on Friday
Published : 22 Apr 2023, 11:01 AM
Libyans are celebrating Islam'sEidal-Fitrholiday- and ending their month-long Ramadan fast - on different days this year because ofbitterpoliticalsplits that persist despite years of peace efforts.
Religious authorities in east Libya, aligned with the parliament which is based there, said they had sighted the crescent moon on Thursday, making it the last day of fasting and setting Friday asEid.
In Tripoli, the capital, religious authorities linked to the national interim government said they had not seen the moon and theholidaywould not begin until Saturday, meaning people should fast another day.
"This is madness and I pray it ends here," said Ahmed Mesbah, 50, in Tripoli, who has chosen to celebrateEidon Friday. "We are divided among those who fast and those who have stopped fasting," he added.
The date ofEidis normally set by the official religious authority in each country, but Libya has had little stability since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising against ruler Muammar Gaddafi. The countrysplitin 2014 between warring factions in east and west, a rift that remains despite comparative peace since 2020.
While people in areas controlled by eastern factions appeared to be universally celebratingEidon Friday, people living in Tripoli and some other parts of the west seemedsplitbetween those celebrating and those still fasting.
"Thesplitbetween east and west on such a happy occasion is hurtful and makes me sad. I'm afraid of moresplits going deeper in our lives in Libya," said Mohamed Salem, in Tripoli, who is still fasting.
Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah in Tripoli said people should follow the grand mufti's decision to wait until Saturday. The parliament, which backs a rival administration, saidEidstarted on Friday.
In western areas of Libya,divisionsoverEid, which even extended to different members of the same families, appeared to partly reflectdivisionsover the role of the mufti, Sadiq al-Ghariani, who is seen as close to the Muslim Brotherhood.
The brotherhood has been party to the regional and political disputes in Libya, including against the eastern-based factions and some Salafist Muslim groups.
