Philippine, Indonesian Muslims Congregate for Eid-ul-Adha as Outbreak Deepens

Muslims flocked to mosques in the Philippines and Indonesia on Tuesday and butchered livestock to mark Eid-ul-Adha, or the “Feast of Sacrifice” holiday, despite their governments urging people not to congregate in public amid virulent waves of coronavirus infections.

President Rodrigo Duterte called for peace in the Catholic-majority Philippines. Muslims make up a small percentage of the population. They are largely concentrated in the south, but at least 110,000 live in Metro Manila, according to the 2015 census.

“I stand in solidarity with you in pursuing our shared goal of building a society that transcends religious, political, and cultural barriers,” Duterte said in a holiday message.

“Let us reach out to one another, set aside our differences, and join hands to overcome the great challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic that we as a people are facing at this time,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque added.

Eid-ul-Adha honors Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to God, who allowed him to sacrifice a ram instead. Muslims butcher cows, goats, lambs and other animals to prepare a feast for friends and family, and to donate to others in need.

In neighboring Indonesia, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo called on worshipers in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country to follow health protocols, including wearing masks and maintaining social distance.

“During a pandemic like today, we need a willingness to make more sacrifices. Sacrificing personal interests and putting the interests of the community and others first,” Jokowi said in an Eid greeting broadcast via YouTube on Monday. “May Allah ease all of our steps until we achieve victory against this COVID-19 pandemic.”

In Bangladesh, another majority-Muslim country, the government has lifted all COVID-19 restrictions during a nine-day period that covers Eid, although the nation is in the throes of a severe wave of infections driven by the highly contagious Delta variant.