"The unthinkable has become reality" - how a worldwide pandemic has stopped one of the oldest religious traditions

The 'stay at home' slogan has been one of the main messages in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.
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But what if your home is not conventional - or even in one place and what if the place you feel most at home and connected is not where you live?

In this Yorkshire Evening Post look at how coronavirus is impacting the social inequality that was already growing in the city - we look at the effects it has had on religion and culture.

Eid

A lonely and "unthinkable" end to Ramadan as mosques remain closed.A lonely and "unthinkable" end to Ramadan as mosques remain closed.
A lonely and "unthinkable" end to Ramadan as mosques remain closed.
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This coming weekend many Muslims across Leeds, the rest of the country and the world, would ordinarily be marking the end of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr, a celebration which is also called the "Festival of Breaking the Fast".

However, this year and for the first time in British Muslim history, "the unthinkable has become reality".

Qari Asim MBE is the senior Imam, at the Makkah Mosque in Leeds and is also the chair of the Mosques & Imams National Advisory Board. This year he warned that many Muslims will be left lonely and isolated this Eid.

He said: "Muslims in Leeds have shown great fortitude and resilience during Ramadan in lockdown, observing social distancing guidance and staying away from the Mosque which is usually the hub of religious and social interaction during the month.

The designated traveller site at Cottingley.The designated traveller site at Cottingley.
The designated traveller site at Cottingley.
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"The Eid prayer is something Muslims look forward to all year long. However, with, mosques remaining closed in line with Government guidance, no Eid Prayer will take place in mosques or open spaces, public parks, for the public this Eid. This is extremely challenging and distressing for us. There is a palpable sense of sadness in the community given that usually Mosques are jam packed with people on this auspicious day.

Lonely

"This is the first time in British Muslim history when there will be no public Eid Prayer. This is something that was totally unthinkable six months ago, but today the unthinkable has become reality. This year, Eid will be lonely for many people; although we may not be able to touch, hug or kiss our loved ones, we should ensure no one feels alone on this day of celebration."

He is urging the Leeds Muslim community not to dampen the spirit of Eid. He is reaffirming the mosques are closed but asking families to enjoy the celebrations in their own homes.

Usually Mr Asim would visit around a dozen houses to join celebrations and have a bite to eat but this Eid, he says he will instead be baking cakes with his family and, observing social distancing, then drop them off to the houses he usually visits- and also those living in isolation.

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He will still also don his finest and offer online spiritual connection with his congregation and video call the elderly members.

Travellers

Looking after all sections of their community is also very much part of the gypsy and traveller ethos and they are also having to adapt usual customs during the coronavirus lockdown.

There are around 4,000 members of the gypsy and traveller community living in the city and, as a group, they have a lower life expectancy anyway and are considered to be high risk should they contract coronavirus.

However, conforming, social distancing and staying put are generally the opposite of what inspires the gypsy and traveller community and so health and council teams, along with third sector organisations, have been joining forces to help make sure that they are staying as safe as possible - especially as many can't read or understand the government messages.

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Liz Keat is the clinical lead for the Homeless and Health Inclusion Team at Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust.

She told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "They (organisations) have identified who are vulnerable members, who should be quarantined, who are the high risk people and making regular contact with them.

"It is a community where literacy can be low and a lot of the information that has come from the government, in terms of letters, is meaningless for people that can't make sense of it.

"This is a virus where we need people to conform, the best way of doing that is to have a behaviour approach. Any sort of enforcement is not going to be helpful and we want people to be doing the right thing for the right reasons. We have been working with people to understand the information and what that might mean for them, their family and community."

Safe sites

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As well as verbally communicating the safety messages, one of the biggest pieces of work that has been undertaken is to enable road-side travellers to stay put without being evicted. As well as the two designated and council managed traveller sites at Cottingley Springs and Kidacre Park near Hunslet, council owned land has been set aside, such as leisure centre car parks, and is being provided with portable toilets, water and showers by the local authority.

It is thought that Leeds is one of the only cities in the country to have put in such measures.

Ms Keat added: "It has come into its own. They are real basic things but it means people can stay where they are with less risk to themselves and others. There is no benefit for gypsies, or residents, to have people moving around all the time. It is a much more safe system.

"People are living with extended families and if they are in a caravan, that is a lot of people in a small living environment. This group of people are also likely to have long-term health conditions and the mortality rate is much higher. There is no evidence to say they are more likely to contract the virus but if they were they are more likely to have serious complications."

A message from the Editor:

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Thank you for reading this story on our website. These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

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Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor