EUROPE-MIGRANTS/RAMADAN Homeless migrants observe first day of Ramadan on seafront at French border

Record ID: 151774

  • Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/RAMADAN Homeless migrants observe first day of Ramadan on seafront at French border
  • Date: 19th June 2015
  • Summary: SAN LUDOVICO, ITALY (JUNE 18, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS PRAYING (SOUNDBITE) (French) PRESIDENT OF LOCAL BRANCH OF NGO FRATERNITE DU SAVOIR, BOUBAKRIS SAMY, SAYING: "We always call for calm, we tell them they should show what it means to be a Muslim, the patience, the wisdom of Muslims. Because here there aren't only Muslims, you have to work with Muslims and non-
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAC82D8MKN0CAJC4VZ9A59TGX3O
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Migrants camped precariously on a rocky shoreline in the Mediterranean were among the Muslims across the world who observed the first day of Ramadan on Thursday (June 18).
    The several dozen mostly African migrants have spent over a week on Italy's border with France where border officials and the French police have repeatedly repelled their attempts to cross, the next step on a journey to northern Europe.
    Assembled on a dusty piece of grass next to their makeshift camp, the Muslims among the migrants gathered to pray after the sun had gone down.
    Boubakris Samy, president of the local branch of NGO "Fraternite du Savoir", said it was important for the community on the rocks to overcome the differences between faith groups.
    "We tell them they should show what it means to be a Muslim, the patience, the wisdom of Muslims. Because here there aren't only Muslims, you have to work with Muslims and non-Muslims because they all are in the same situation. There used to be problems amongst them, and now there is peace," he said.
    Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and Muslims across the world traditionally fast for 30 days from sunrise to sunset abstaining from food and drink and other activities including sex and smoking. It marks the revelation of the Koran to Mohammed.
    Some migrants in the area around the small coastal community of Ventimiglia have been evacuated by Italian police in recent days but those on the rocks have so far been allowed to remain.
    They are among the many thousands who have arrived in Europe since the start of the year -- often ferried in rickety boats across the Mediterranean -- part of a human crisis which European leaders are struggling to solve.
    "I would have liked to have a European leader here, sitting here on a chair with a beach umbrella to spend one whole day here, and they wouldn't be able to stay. Imagine people sitting here, in front of the sea, sitting on the rocks, not allowed to sit on the grass, they do their business here, which means that the rocks are a roof for them, and that's not acceptable," Samy told Reuters Television.
    Families gathered on the promenade as darkness fell to share their first meal of Chorba since the morning.
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