This is the moment hundreds of Muslims gathered in an Ikea car park in Germany to celebrate Eid after being unable to safely congregate at a mosque.
Muslims around the world celebrated Eid al-Fitr on Sunday, a normally festive holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, with millions under strict stay-at-home orders and many fearing renewed coronavirus outbreaks.
Social distancing measures have also prevented large groups from gathering in confined spaces, but mosque leaders in the German city of Wetzlar found a novel solution to the restrictions.
Kadir Terzi, chairman of a mosque in the city near Frankfurt, said Ikea “didn’t hesitate for a second” to open up its car park for socially distanced prayers after he approached the Swedish furniture firm for help.
He told the BBC that he wasn’t sure at first if they would be allowed to use the car park.
“But the store manager didn’t hesitate for a second and said ‘yes, you can pray’,” he said.
“I was surprised and happy at the same time.
“The closing prayer with all Muslims in Wetzlar was like a reward for us.”
He said the opportunity to gather in the car park was particularly special because people had felt isolated during Ramadan due to Covid-19.
And the mosque, IGMG Wetzlar FATIH CAMII, posted on Twitter: “We would like to thank the Wetzlar police, the Wetzlar public order office, Ikea Wetzlar management, brothers, and all who contributed to making this extraordinary holiday prayer possible.”
