Libyans are celebrating Eid al-Fitr holiday on different days because of a dispute between the General Authority of Awqaf and Dar Al Iftaa about seeing the crescent moon of the month of Shawwal.
Religious authorities in eastern Libya said they had sighted the crescent moon on Thursday, making it the last day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan and setting Friday as Eid.
However, in Tripoli, religious authorities affiliated with the interim Government of National Unity (GNU) said they had not seen the moon and the holiday would not begin until Saturday, meaning people should fast another day.
UN special envoy to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily extended his wishes to the Libyan people inside and outside the country.
In a statement, he said: “I hope that the joy of Eid, after the blessed month of Ramadan, will strengthen solidarity for peace and national unity among the Libyan people.”
The envoy called upon “all Libyans political actors, military and security leaders, notables, societal representatives, institutions and authorities to come together in a spirit of compromise for the sake of establishing a clear and unified pathway towards lasting peace, stability and prosperity.”
He also urged “women and youth to seize the occasion of this celebration to renew their commitment to participate fully in the electoral process as a meaningful contribution to rebuilding peace, security, stability and prosperity in their motherland.”
He continued: “I renew my calls for the release of those arbitrarily detained all over Libya as a critical foundation for confidence-building and for establishing a comprehensive, rights-based reconciliation. This is also an opportunity to encourage all stakeholders to rally behind the UN’s comprehensive approach to enable national elections this year.”
The statement concluded: “The people of Libya are eager to turn the page of suffering and division, and open a new chapter of peace, stability and prosperity in their country. Let’s not fail them.”
On the eve of the division over the date of the holiday, Halima Abdel Rahman, GNU Minister of Justice, supervised the release of 1,057 prisoners from the new Correction and Rehabilitation Center.
In a statement on Thursday evening, the ministry said that on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, and under the directives of the GNU Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice oversaw the pardon and release of the inmates.
This initiative “contributes to consolidating bridges of openness and reconciliation,” the minister underlined.
