The muslim holy month of Ramadan began across France this Monday, amid calls for a ceasefire and lasting peace in Gaza.
"After consulting astronomical data and moon observations, the religious commission of the Grand Mosque of Paris has set Monday 11 March as the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan ... in France", the Grand Mosque declared in a statement Sunday.
The holy month of fasting, prayer and sharing for Muslims, got underway with the Grand Moque's rector, Chems-eddine Hafiz, praying that "this blessed month will bring an immediate ceasefire and a just and lasting peace to Gaza".
During Ramadan, believers are invited to abstain from drinking, eating, smoking and having sexual relations, from dawn – as soon as one can "distinguish a white thread from a black thread" according to the Koran – until sunset.
One of the five pillars of Islam, Ramadan is a time when large donations are made to mosques and prayer halls, which number around 2,500 in France.
Muslims are also invited to pay alms to the poor, the zakât el-Fitr.
L’annonce officielle à partir de la Grande Mosquée de Paris du 1er jour de Ramadan.
— Hafiz Chems-eddine (@chemshafiz) March 10, 2024
En ce mois béni de Ramadan, que la paix, la joie et la sérénité inondent vos foyers. Que ce mois sacré soit empli de bénédictions et de lumière pour nous tous. pic.twitter.com/AU1LVQa8YY
Ramadan 'dedicated' to Palestinians
In a separate press release, several French Muslim federations said that the "blessed month of Ramadan will be entirely dedicated to the valiant Palestinian people, with prayers and collections made in their favour".
"We pray to God ... for an immediate ceasefire and a just and lasting peace in Gaza, and to relieve the suffering and pain of the civilian populations who are victims of bombardments and famine", the Muslim Federations said at a meeting at the Paris Mosque on Sunday.
France has between five and six million practising and non-practising Muslims, making Islam the country's second-largest religion and the French Muslim community is the largest in Europe.
Ramadan will come to an end with Eid el-Fitr – the feast of the breaking of the fast – around 9 April.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called Monday for "silencing the guns" in Gaza in honor of the start of Ramadan.
Guterres told reporters that the yearly occasion celebrates "peace, reconciliation and solidarity. Yet even though Ramadan has begun - the killing, bombing and bloodshed continue in Gaza."
Aid on a massive scale
He urged the release of hostages and removal of all obstacles to "ensure the delivery of lifesaving aid at the speed and massive scale required."
The United Nations says that lack of humanitarian aid means famine is a growing risk in Gaza, where 2.4 million people are under near-total siege by the Israeli military, as it battles Hamas militants.
The war, started by a 7 October Hamas attack on Israel, has resulted in the deaths of 31,112 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Israel's defence minister said Monday that authorities would respect freedom of worship during Ramadan but issued a warning.
"The State of Israel respects the freedom of worship at Al-Aqsa and all holy places," Yoav Gallant said in a video message, referring to the third-holiest site in Islam, located in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.
"The month of Ramadan may be a month of jihad, and we say to everyone not to try us – we are ready, don't make mistakes," he said in the clip posted on his Telegram channel.
His comments came amid concerns about tensions at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, a flashpoint for violence during the Muslim fasting month in past years.
(with AFP)
