Iftar in trek
Voor de vele werkers in Qatar die uit de lage lonen landen worden ingevlogen om 'flink dom' werk te doen is het leven zwaar. Ze worden onder gebracht in kampen met weinig voorzieningen, ze hebben lange werkdagen en verdienen weinig (maar wel veel meer dan thuis). Gedurende ramadan zijn de werktijden korter maar zijn veel zaken gesloten of beperkt open. Dit als inleiding op onderstaand stuk uit Peninsula van vandaag
doha • An increasing number of low-income non-Muslim workers are attending mass iftar feasts being hosted by charitable organisations and individuals this Ramadan.
The state-run Zakat Fund which has been hosting iftar at a mosque in Al Wakra, among other places, for years on end, had to set up an air-conditioned tent outside the mosque since the number of attendees had more than doubled this year.
A source close to the organisers told this newspaper yesterday that until last year they were holding the feast inside the mosque (Kab Ibn Zaheer) in Old Wakra and between 250 and 300 people used to attend. Most of them were low-income workers staying in labour camps in the area.
This year, the number of attendees has suddenly jumped to more than 500, over 100 of them being non-Muslims.
“We are getting from the caterers every evening some 80 big dishes of rice, meat and other food items and one dish is shared by some seven to eight people," said the source. "So you can have a rough idea about the turnout.”
The source said the other reason why the feast is being held in a tent outside the mosque is because it is easier to clean the place and worshippers are not put to any inconvenience.
One of the non-Muslim attendees this newspaper spoke to said that he heard from friends about free meals available here every evening, so he came here regularly. "I don't have to buy dinner and the food being provided here is really good," he said.
According to the worker, a Sri Lankan national, food has been becoming costlier in Qatar and that explains why an increasing number of low-income workers like him are seen at Iftar feasts this Ramadan.
“Of course, we are welcome here or we won't come," he remarked.
doha • An increasing number of low-income non-Muslim workers are attending mass iftar feasts being hosted by charitable organisations and individuals this Ramadan.
The state-run Zakat Fund which has been hosting iftar at a mosque in Al Wakra, among other places, for years on end, had to set up an air-conditioned tent outside the mosque since the number of attendees had more than doubled this year.
A source close to the organisers told this newspaper yesterday that until last year they were holding the feast inside the mosque (Kab Ibn Zaheer) in Old Wakra and between 250 and 300 people used to attend. Most of them were low-income workers staying in labour camps in the area.
This year, the number of attendees has suddenly jumped to more than 500, over 100 of them being non-Muslims.
“We are getting from the caterers every evening some 80 big dishes of rice, meat and other food items and one dish is shared by some seven to eight people," said the source. "So you can have a rough idea about the turnout.”
The source said the other reason why the feast is being held in a tent outside the mosque is because it is easier to clean the place and worshippers are not put to any inconvenience.
One of the non-Muslim attendees this newspaper spoke to said that he heard from friends about free meals available here every evening, so he came here regularly. "I don't have to buy dinner and the food being provided here is really good," he said.
According to the worker, a Sri Lankan national, food has been becoming costlier in Qatar and that explains why an increasing number of low-income workers like him are seen at Iftar feasts this Ramadan.
“Of course, we are welcome here or we won't come," he remarked.
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