AMMAN — Jordan on Tuesday joins Muslims around the world
observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan under exceptional circumstances and
restrictions forced by the global pandemic.
اضافة اعلان
Grand Mufti Abdulkarim Khasawneh announced that the crescent
moon (hilal) of the new lunar month was spotted in Jordan on Monday, which
makes Tuesday the first day of Ramadan, during which Muslims observe
dawn-to-dusk fasting.
His Majesty King Abdullah, in phone calls on Monday,
exchanged Ramadan wishes with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Egyptian
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Iraqi President Barham Salih, Kuwait’s Emir
Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin
Hamad Al Thani, the Royal Court said.
A series of plans and measures have been put in place to
ensure a smooth fasting month, it was announced.
Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh announced new decisions on
Sunday to be implemented throughout the holy month to ease the situation for
Jordanians.
Khasawneh issued Circular No. 29 to allow half an hour for
people to go to mosques for Fajr and Maghreb prayers, on foot, provided that
the health protocols (which include social distancing and wearing masks) are
followed.
The government also extended the working hours of delivery
services for restaurants, dessert shops, and pharmacies until 3am.
Additionally, hotels will be able to provide food services
until 8:30 pm for their guests during the month of Ramadan.
The Public Security Directorate (PSD) said in a statement
sent to Jordan News that they will be adopting security and traffic plans
during the holy month.
PSD spokesperson, Colonel Amer Sartawi, pointed out that
there will be traffic plans to prevent and ease congestion, adding that “this
requires the cooperation and awareness of our fellow citizens by adhering to
traffic laws.”
The PSD’s spokesperson declared that they will be providing
logistic and technical support to the Civil Defense Department in order to
provide humanitarian services to those in need.
The statement also included that police will continue
ensuring that precautionary measures and health regulations are implemented to
protect the safety of citizens.
The police will also step up their presence in commercial
sites across the Kingdom through emergency patrols, the criminal investigation
unit, and preventive security.
The National Society for Consumer Protection (NSCP) issued a
press release on Monday explaining their plan to monitor markets during Ramadan
and raise awareness about health and consumption.
The NSCP will be monitoring the price index of commodities
that citizens use on a daily basis throughout the month. They will also be open
to receiving complaints and notes from citizens and following up with the
relevant regulatory authorities.
The plan also includes raising awareness and providing
guidance for citizens in terms of focusing on healthy foods, such as fresh
produce and fresh chicken. It also advised against cooking in excessive
quantities.
The Ministry of Interior issued instructions related to the
observance of the sacred month, banning restaurants and coffee houses from
opening during daytime, while liquor stores will be closed for the entire
month. Exceptions, which include tourist-graded restaurants and hotels, are
issued by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and normally allow these
place to serve customers under strict oversight.
Mohammad Obeidat, the president of NSCP, said in the press
release that the pandemic has changed much of consumer behavior patterns and
consumer priorities.
He added that “all concerned parties must join efforts and
coordinate action during this holy month to provide all the commodities that
citizens need on a daily basis in sufficient quantities, fair prices and high
quality that fit the purchasing capacities of citizens struggling with the
difficult economic circumstances.”
Samih Alkhulaifat, a 64-year-old senior consulting
radiologist, describes Ramadan in the midst of the pandemic as “depressing”. A
major concern of his is the traffic and overcrowding, which is particularly
distressing during this period.
“This Ramadan is also going to be different because there is
no socialization and no spirituality,” he added.
Mohammad Al Amodi told Jordan News that he is concerned
about the traffic and overcrowding caused by the ongoing 7pm curfew. The
29-year-old said that it will be strange not to visit his relatives and engage
in social visits during the holy month.
He also added that his religious practices will change,
reporting that he has “never witnessed Ramadan without Taraweeh prayers.”
A 22-year-old student, Haya Sabeeh, believes that the
restrictions are “ineffective” and that “the crowded public spaces and traffic
before lockdown is making the situation worse.” She also expressed concern
about the economic survival of restaurants and retail shops.
Shadan Jayyousi, on the other hand, sees the COVID-19
restrictions as a necessity and hopes that they will lead to a lower number of
cases and a general improvement in the general situation of the country.
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