Middle Eastern nations declared the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on Monday, with the king of Saudi Arabia using the occasion to urge for an end to the “heinous crimes” occurring in the war-torn Gaza region
Saudi Arabia said on Sunday that the Supreme Court had announced “Monday, March 11, 2024, the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan for this year”.
“As we witness the arrival of Ramadan this year, our hearts are heavy with sorrow for the ongoing suffering of our Palestinian brothers facing relentless aggression,” Speaking as custodian of Islam’s two holiest sites, King Salman gave thanks in his Ramadan message on Sunday evening.
“We call upon the international community to uphold its responsibilities to put an end to these heinous crimes.”
Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam.
After the sighting of the crescent moon, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar also announced a Monday start for Ramadan.
Egypt likewise confirmed Ramadan was beginning on Monday, as it was in the Palestinian Territories including Gaza, and in Algeria and Tunisia.
Their neighbors Morocco and Libya said Ramadan would start on Tuesday.
Iran had earlier set the beginning of Ramadan for Tuesday after its “Estehlal” moon observation office said it had not been possible to observe “the crescent of Ramadan”.
During Ramadan, observant Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk, and traditionally gather with family and friends to break their fast in the evening.
It is also a time of prayer, when the faithful converge in large numbers at mosques, especially at night.
The war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has cast a long shadow over festivities in the region, with hopes dashed that a ceasefire agreement could be reached before Ramadan began.
