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Eid celebrations around the world as conflict spikes

More than 1.6 billion Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of the holiest month of the year in the Islamic calendar, but the festivities have been marred by violent extremist attacks in Iraq and Nigeria.

Egyptians celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Cairo (AAP)
Egyptians celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Cairo (AAP) Source: AAP

Muslims around the world, including those in China, India, the United States and the country with the largest Islamic population in the world, Indonesia, have been marking the end of the holy month.

Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, and after 30 days of prayer and abstaining from food and drink during daylight, Eid is considered a chance to celebrate.

Zaatari meal

At the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, displaced Syrian refugees shared meals, praying that the end of Ramadan would bring with it peace in Syria.

Jordan hosts about 600,000 Syrian refugees, according to the UN.

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"I feel so far away from our family. Far from our children, far from our country," one refugee said.

Eid celebrations were a brief respite for children gathering whatever money they could find to buy sweets and toys.

For the devout, Eid al-Fitr is a time for prayer and reflection, forgiveness and blessings.

In Cairo, Egypt, the celebrations were colourful.

"Eid is beautiful. People are happy. I am happy and the kids are playing. Everything is nice," a resident said.

In Iraq, Sunni Muslims prayed for peace.

But the country suffered another attack when a suicide car bombing struck a busy market in downtown in Khan Bani Saad killing more than 120, according to Iraqi officials and injuring around 170. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombing.

At least 49 were killed at a busy marketplace where people were doing last minute shopping for Ramadan in Gombe city on Thursday in northeast Nigeria. 

At least 13 were killed in northeastern Nigeria on Friday after a woman and a girl staged suicide bombings near a prayer ground and mosque. It is understood other girls may have been involved. 

The dead were remembered in Eid prayers.


2 min read

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Source: SBS


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