THE 18'000 strong Muslim community in the Balearics began Ramadan all together for the first time yesterday.
In the past, the start of Ramadan had been governed by the country of origin.
However, according to Yousef Jouhiri, spokesman for the Balearic Federation of Immigrant Associations, this year, the imans on the island had reached an agreement, under which all Muslims would start the month of Ramadan on the same day. Jouhiri said that the integration of the Muslims in Balearic society was very advanced, and the practice of their rights barely caused problems, although he did say that some firms prevented Muslim workers from breaking their fast outside standard meal times. This practice, however, is becoming rarer, he said.
During Ramadan, Muslims cannot eat, drink or maintain sexual relations between sunrise and sunset, to venerate God and show their adhesion to the doctrine revealed to the Prophet Mahomet in the Koran. The sick, children and those who are travelling can be dispensed, Jouihri said. There are more than 1'000 million Muslims in the world, more than 12 million in Europe and about 800'000 in Spain, according to the Islamic Cultural Centre in Madrid.
Balearic Muslims all start Ramadan on the same day