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Shafaq News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqi pilgrims reroute as Sayyida Zainab shrine rituals suspended in Syria
Shafaq News – Al-Diwaniyah/Damascus Iraqi religious tour groups have rerouted Muharram pilgrimage campaigns after ceremonies at the Sayyida Zainab shrine near Damascus were suspended this year, according to sources. The Sayyida Zainab shrine, located south of the Syrian capital, is a major Shiite pilgrimage site believed to house the tomb of Zainab, the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad. It draws thousands of visitors annually, particularly during Ashura—the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram—which commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, a central figure in Shiite Islam. Um Hassan, 55, from Iraq's Al-Diwaniyah province, has participated in annual visits to the shrine for years. She typically saves up to 500,000 Iraqi dinars (approximately $380) to join these campaigns during Ashura. This year, organizers informed her that while the shrine remains open to visitors, commemorative rituals would not take place inside the compound. 'I used to travel annually with these groups,' she told Shafaq News. 'Now, with the rituals halted, the experience has lost its meaning. I used to take part in the commemorations with women there. The absence of those ceremonies left me deeply saddened.' Following the update, she opted to travel instead to Iran, joining a pilgrimage to the shrine of Fatima Masumeh in the city of Qom, one of Iran's major Shiite religious centers. She noted that the costs for the Iranian tour were roughly equivalent to the Syria trip. The Syrian Ministry of Religious Endowments publicly denied issuing any directive to close the Sayyida Zainab shrine or prohibit rituals. However, a source familiar with the shrine's internal operations confirmed to Shafaq News that a decision had been made to relocate this year's Muharram ceremonies outside the shrine for security and organizational reasons. 'The official statement emphasized that the shrine remains open and that rituals are not banned,' the source said, requesting anonymity. 'But a separate internal decision was made to suspend ceremonies inside the shrine to prevent potential incidents.' As of publication, Shafaq News had contacted relevant authorities to obtain photos or videos confirming whether rituals had been held within the shrine, but received no response. No official statement has been issued by shrine administrators regarding the matter. The ritual suspension followed a wave of public speculation earlier this month claiming that Syrian authorities had ordered the shrine closed during Muharram. These claims were later denied by officials, but the confusion led to uncertainty among organizers and pilgrims. In parallel, several Iraqi political figures called for avoiding travel to Syria during Ashura. Among them was Issam Hussein, a political figure associated with the Sadrist movement—a prominent Shiite religious and political current in Iraq led by cleric Muqtada al-Sadr—who accused the Syrian government of operating under what he described as a 'terrorist law' and urged Iraqis not to travel. Religious tourism to Syria has gradually resumed in recent years as relative stability returned under the government of President Bashar al-Assad. Iraqi tour companies have increasingly offered organized visits to Sayyida Zainab, modeled after similar campaigns to religious sites in Iran.
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Syria denies restrictions at Sayyida Zainab shrine
Shafaq News - Damascus On Saturday, Syria's Ministry of Religious Endowments dismissed as unfounded reports claiming the Sayyida Zainab shrine was closed or that Ashura rituals had been banned. The ministry's media office clarified to Shafaq News that the shrine remains open and that religious ceremonies continue as scheduled, following unverified social media posts circulating at the start of Muharram, alleging state-imposed restrictions. Sayyida Zainab, the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad and sister of Imam Hussein, is a revered figure in Shiite Islam. Her shrine in southern Damascus draws large numbers of pilgrims during Muharram — the first month of the Islamic calendar — when Shiite Muslims commemorate the killing of Imam Hussein at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. Ashura, observed on the tenth day of Muharram, is among the most significant dates in the Shiite religious calendar and attracts thousands of visitors to shrines like Sayyida Zainab's.
Nahar Net
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Political upheavals and postwar turmoil: Ramadan this year is bittersweet
by Naharnet Newsdesk 03 March 2025, 13:51 Some restaurants and coffee shops in Syria were closed during the day Saturday while others opened as usual as observant Muslims began fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, the first since the fall of Assad family rule in the war-torn country. Syria's interim Ministry of Religious Endowments reportedly called for all restaurants, coffee shops and street food stands be closed during the day and that people must not eat or drink in public or face punishment. Those who violate the rule could get up to three months in jail. However, it did not appear that any official order had been issued by the government to that effect. Associated Press journalists who toured Damascus on Saturday said some coffee shops were opened but had their windows closed to that people can't see who is inside. Insurgents led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, overthrew President Bashar Assad's secular government in early December ending the 54-year Assad family dynasty. Since then, Syria's new Islamist government under former insurgent leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, has been in control and many fear that the country could turn into an Islamic state, although al-Sharaa has so far promised to respect religious minorities. Under Assad's rule during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when observant Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset, people were allowed to eat in public. This year, many people are abstaining from eating in public fearing reprisals. "Ramadan this year comes with a new flavor. This is the Ramadan of victory and liberation," said interim Minister of Religious Affairs Hussam Haj-Hussein in a televised statement. Most countries around the world, including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Kuwait began observing Ramadan on Saturday, while a few other countries such as Malyasia and Japan, as well as some Shiite Muslims, began the fast on Sunday. In many parts of the region, the holy month this year is bittersweet. Lebanese this year mark Ramadan after the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that went into effect in late November. In the Gaza Strip, a fragile ceasefire deal, which has paused over 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas, nears the end of its first phase, and many Palestinians ate their first iftar in the middle of the rubble where their houses used to be. "This year, after the fall of the regime, there are many confirmations regarding the prohibition of publicly breaking the fast, with violators facing imprisonment," said Damascus resident Munir Abdallah. "This is something new, good and respectable, meaning that the rituals of Ramadan should be fully observed in all their aspects." Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar; the month cycles through the seasons. The start of the month traditionally depends on the sighting of the crescent moon. The actual start date may vary among Muslim communities due to declarations by multiple Islamic authorities around the globe on whether the crescent has been sighted or different methodologies used to determine the start of the month. The fast breaking meal is known as iftar and usually family members and friends gather at sunset to have the main meal. Muslims eat a pre-dawn meal, called "suhoor," to hydrate and nurture their bodies ahead of the daily fast. The holy month is also a time when Islamic and charitable organizations frequently provide meals for those unable to afford their own. In the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, Bashar al Mashhadani, imam of the Sheikh Abdulqadir al Gailani Mosque in Baghdad said the mosque was preparing to serve 1,000 free meals per day to people coming to break their fast. Ramadan is followed by the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam's most important feasts.
Euronews
02-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Damascus marks first Ramadan in decades free from Assad family rule
Damascenes are experiencing the first Holy Month of Ramadan without the al-Assad family in more than five decades. Bashar al-Assad, who took over from his father Hafez, was the last of the family to lead the country. He was overthrown in a dramatic rebel coup, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, in early December. Some restaurants and coffee shops remained open, while most were closed as observant Muslim embarked on the first day of a month of fasting and prayer. Syria's interim Ministry of Religious Endowments reportedly ordered that all restaurants, coffee shops and street food stands be closed during the day, and barred public eating and drinking. They've also imposed penalties which include financial fines and up to three months imprisonment. 'This year, after the fall of the regime, there are many confirmations regarding the prohibition of publicly breaking the fast, with violators facing imprisonment,' says Munir Abdallah, a resident of the Syrian capital. 'This is something new, good, and respectable, meaning that the rituals of Ramadan should be fully observed in all their aspects,' he added. Another resident hailed the measure noting that it brings back the original feeling of Ramadan. He also noted that last year, under the Assad rule, everything was open, and it didn't represent the significance of the holy month to Muslims. 'Before the fall (of Assad's regime), last Ramadan, it didn't even feel like Ramadan. You couldn't really tell. But now, it's obvious. Restaurants are closed, people aren't openly breaking their fast,' says Mohammad Kousa. 'You can see that no one is smoking, and no one is casually eating in the streets. Before, we barely felt it was Ramadan.' There are concerns however that the Syria, under Ahmed al-Sharaa's – former HTS leader – leadership could turn the country into an Islamic state. 'Ramadan this year comes with a new flavour. This is the Ramadan of victory and liberation,' said interim Minister of Religious Affairs Hussam Haj-Hussein in a televised statement. Al-Sharaa has previously assured world leaders after his rise to power – in an interim capacity – that he will respect Syria's many religions and sects, and not impede on anyone's personal freedoms or impose religious governance on the public. There are fears the harsh consequences imposed on violating Ramadan traditions may lead people to abstain from eating or drinking in public out of fear of reprisal. Most countries around the world, including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Syria and Kuwait began observing Ramadan on Saturday. A few other countries, including Malaysia and Japan will begin the holy month on Sunday. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and its start date traditionally depends on the sighting of the crescent moon. Muslims observing Ramadan fast from sunrise to sunset, in an act of worship, and empathising with those less fortunate. Those fasting typically consume a pre-dawn meal known as the 'suhoor', and break their fast after sundown with a meal known as 'iftar', which in Arabic means 'breakfast'.
Voice of America
02-03-2025
- Politics
- Voice of America
Syrians begin first Ramadan without Assad family rule in decades
Some restaurants and coffee shops in Syria were closed during the day Saturday while others opened as usual as observant Muslims began fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, the first since the fall of Assad family rule in the war-torn country. Syria's interim Ministry of Religious Endowments reportedly called for all restaurants, coffee shops and street food stands to be closed during the day. And it and that people must not eat or drink in public or face punishment. Those who violate the rule could get up to three months in jail. However, it did not appear that any official order had been issued by the government to that effect. Associated Press journalists who toured Damascus on Saturday said some coffee shops were open but had their windows closed so that people couldn't see who was inside. Insurgents led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, overthrew President Bashar al-Assad's secular government in early December ending the 54-year Assad family dynasty. Since then, Syria's new Islamist government under former insurgent leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, has been in control, and many fear that the country could turn into an Islamic state, although al-Sharaa has so far promised to respect religious minorities. Under Assad's rule during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when observant Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset, people were allowed to eat in public. This year, many people are abstaining from eating in public fearing reprisals. "Ramadan this year comes with a new flavor. This is the Ramadan of victory and liberation," said interim Minister of Religious Affairs Hussam Haj-Hussein in a televised statement. Most countries, including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Kuwait, began observing Ramadan on Saturday, while a few other countries, such as Malaysia and Japan, as well as some Shiite Muslims, will begin the fast on Sunday. In many parts of the Middle East, the holy month this year is bittersweet. Lebanese this year mark Ramadan after the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that went into effect in late November. In the Gaza Strip, a fragile ceasefire deal, which has paused more than 15 months of war between Israel and U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hamas, nears the end of its first phase, and many Palestinians ate their first iftar in the middle of the rubble where their houses used to be. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar; the month cycles through the seasons. The start of the month traditionally depends on the sighting of the crescent moon. The actual start date may vary among Muslim communities because of declarations by multiple Islamic authorities around the globe on whether the crescent has been sighted or different methodologies used to determine the start of the month. The meal that breaks the daily fast is known as iftar and usually family members and friends gather at sunset to share it. Muslims eat a predawn meal, called "suhoor," to hydrate and nurture their bodies ahead of the daily fast. The holy month is also a time when Islamic and charitable organizations frequently provide meals for those unable to afford their own. In the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, Bashar al Mashhadani, imam of the Sheikh Abdulqadir al Gailani Mosque in Baghdad said the mosque was preparing to serve 1,000 free meals per day to people coming to break their fast. Ramadan is followed by the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam's most important feasts.
