13:28, 1 August 2020

Debts prevent many Chechen believers from properly celebrating Eid al-Adha

Sacrifice sheep for sale, 2018. Photo by Magomed Magomedov for the "Caucasian Knot"

Festive prayers on the occasion of Eid al-Adha were held in mosques in Chechnya under strict sanitary measures due to coronavirus. Some residents of the republic had to refuse from performing the rite of sacrifice, since after several months of self-isolation they have no money to buy meat.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that, despite the recommendations, some believers who came to the festive namaz (prayer) to Chechen mosques were without medical masks and sat close to each other, including the head of the republic, Ramzan Kadyrov. Local residents also noted that the Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation failed with its promise to distribute sacrifice sheep for Eid al-Adha among all those in need.

Locals have reported that much fewer believers came to the festive prayer than in previous years. Some decided not to hold the sacrifice rite this year due to lack of money.

"I started working just a few weeks ago; my income is enough only for food," said Khamzat, a resident of Grozny.

Aslambek said that he is not performing the sacrifice rite for the first time in 15 years. "There is no possibility: the quarantine and self-isolation have 'eaten up' all the savings. Now, I work at the construction site; the owner has not paid yet; thus, I have to skip this year's Eid al-Adha," he said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 1, 2020 at 03:34 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: CK correspondents