Eid-il-Fitri in Rome 2020 (Part One)

Largo Preneste. Rome, 24 May 2020

This year was a truly special and unique Eid-il-Fitri celebration, which will be remembered for a long time: the first time the faithful had to follow the rules dictated by the urgency of Covid-19, namely those of social distancing and the use of masks and gloves. In fact, as every year, the Rome Police Headquarters allowed the great prayer of the end of Ramadan to take place in many squares in Rome, provided that the rules that apply to every religious gathering were followed. Therefore, given the closure of the Grand Mosque, all the Muslims poured into the squares.

I followed the prayer in two famous squares of Torpignattara, the soul of the Bangladesh community, in which the Muslims of other countries also joined.

The first was the one organized by the Greater Dhaka Association in Italy in Largo Preneste, at the dawn.

The second largest was the one in Giordano Sangalli Park on Via di Tor Pignattara, organized by the Global Foundation for Human Rights Rome-Italy which brought together three Islamic centers in the area: Torpignattara Muslim Center (TMC), Quba Cultural Association and Torpignattara Central Jame Masjid. With six rounds of prayer and over two thousand Muslims, the organization was impeccable, with a distance of one meter and temperature control for each person who entered the prayer area.

I show you a choice of the many photographs taken in almost four hours, with a first part dedicated to the two squares, and a second part focused instead on the prayer of women and children, with their colors and the new look dictated by the virus.

An end of Ramadan that will hopefully remain the first and last in this anomalous guise, made of gloves, masks and no greeting hugs.

However, a compliment to those who organized them by respecting the rules, for the health of the Muslims themselves and of all the inhabitants of the place.

A religious act that has also become a social and responsibility act.

Alhamdulillah!

One of the Imam. Largo Preneste

Muslims waiting to enter the prayer area. Giordano Sangalli Park

Temperature control

Rome, 24 May 2020