Iraq Split on When To Celebrate Eid al-Fitr

Iraqis are celebrating Eid al-Fitr on two different days after local authorities differed on the end date of Ramadan. The Kurdistan region of Iraq and the Diwan of Sunni Endowments proclaimed that the first day of Eid al-Fitr would be Monday, while Shia authorities will mark the holiday on Tuesday.

“The crescent of Shawwal [the 10th month of the Islam’s lunar calendar, when Eid al-Fitr is celebrated] is expected to be clearly seen on Monday evening, thus Tuesday will be the first day of Eid,” the highest Shia authority in Iraq, the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, said, according to the government-operated Iraqi News Agency (INA). Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Regional Government Minister of Endowment and Religious Affairs Pishtiwan Sadiq said late on Saturday that Sunday would be the last day of Ramadan, and Monday would mark the first day of Eid al-Fitr. The Diwan of Sunni Endowments also announced on Saturday that Monday would be the first day of the Eid, INA reported.