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Varying Enforcement of Ramadan Laws in Palestinian Cities

(Al-Monitor) Daoud Kuttab - The Palestinian press has published numerous stories of individuals being arrested and imprisoned for eating, drinking and smoking in public in Nablus and Tulkarm during Ramadan. In Ramallah and Bethlehem, restaurants whose owners are Christians are open. Those cities have traditionally strong Christian populations and Christian mayors - Musa Hadid in Ramallah and Vera Baboon in Bethlehem. Article 274 of the Jordanian Penal Code, which still applies, stipulates, "Whoever publicly violates fasting in the month of Ramadan, s/he shall be punished by imprisonment of up to one month or a fine of up to 25 Jordanian dinars [about $35]." Sani Meo, publisher of This Week in Palestine, said polarization within Palestinian society is obvious at Ramadan. "In Palestine, we have been experiencing [increased polarization] in how people view social-religious issues, between those who are very conservative and those who are more liberal." According to Meo, the more conservative wing is the more influential.
2016-06-20 00:00:00
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