Toulouse Family Prepares for Ramadan Under COVID-19 Restrictions

Friday, April 24, the beginning of the month of Ramadan in France. In Toulouse, Alia, a mother from the Bagatelle district, is busy in the kitchen. She attaches great importance to respecting the restrictive measures imposed in order to counter covid-19. Despite the confinement and the fear of contagion, "we keep smiling," says Alia, surrounded by her sons who participate in the preparations, reports the newspaper La Dépêche.

In the Amir family, like other families, the breaking of the fast (iftar) at sunset is a moment of sharing and conviviality. "For us it is the month of forgiveness and we wish to live these next four weeks in conviviality, even if the usual program is a bit disrupted," says Ouissem, Alia’s son.

With the closure of mosques, the opportunity is given to each family to follow on social networks via Facebook live, the intervention of the imam or to prolong the links with loved ones. "We have a clock at home that tells us the prayer times," he says.

There will be no gatherings or large receptions at home throughout this fasting period. "Muslims were in the habit of going to the mosque after breaking the fast to meet and experience a moment of solidarity. This year, they can meet through social networks and digital tools," says Abdellatif Mellouki, the local representative of the regional council of the Muslim faith.

In France as in Morocco, the month of Ramadan will be very special. The Moroccan authorities have instituted a curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. during this month, which came into effect on Saturday, April 25, 2020.