Muslims mark Eid in shadow of unrest

SAUDI ARABIA: The world's Muslims on Sunday marked the Eid al-Adha feast which caps the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, with the festival overshadowed by deadly attacks in Africa and Central Asia.

This year the feast comes after the turmoil of the 'Arab Spring,' the pro-democracy protests that swept the Arab world and led to the ouster of the autocratic leaders of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.

Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, honours Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael on the order of God, who according to tradition then provided a lamb in the boy's place.

It was being observed amid fears and tears in Nigeria, two days after attacks claimed by Islamists killed at least 150 people in the northeastern city of Damaturu.

Thousands gathered for prayers to mark the feast at an open ground in Damaturu patrolled by dozens of armed police following Friday's gun and bomb attacks, among the deadliest ever carried out by the Boko Haram Islamist sect.

"It's a season of mourning and celebration at the same time," said Damaturu resident Aisami Bundi.

"People are struggling to strike a balance between the merriment of the season and the losses the city has incurred from the attacks, especially the large number of people that have been killed," he said.

One man, identified as Buba, who was mourning alongside a fried who lost a brother, condemned the attacks that so directly clashed with his faith.

"I can't comprehend how one can justify such wanton killings in Islam, which strongly abhors bloodletting."

In Libya, people were struggling to find the funds to mark the feast due to skyrocketing prices in the wake of an eight-month rebellion that ended with the killing of dictator Moamer Kadhafi last month.

AFP