Another reason to be happy we live in the U.S. of A- the right to eat what we want, when we want, where we want. No “morality police” for us, thank you.
RAMALLAH, West Bank – A new squad of morality police has begun detaining Palestinians who eat or drink in public during Ramadan in the West Bank, where the Islamic month of daytime fasting was always widely observed but never imposed.
Those who dare to eat or drink are safe at home, at least for now.
Police spokesman Adnan al-Damari said police have arrested at least 50 alleged public morality offenders in Ramallah since the start of Ramadan, but would not be going after people who break the fast at home.
“The duty of the morality police is to preserve public manners in public places and to preserve the feelings of the people who are fasting,” he said.
Here in America, we sometimes take our freedom of religion for granted. We can be a believer or non-believer of any religion we choose. Eat or drink on the street in a Muslim country, and you will be arrested. Why? Because the government has chosen the religion, and everyone must be a believer.
Islamic custom demands that believers fast and refrain from self-indulgence between sunrise and sunset during Ramadan, which began Sept. 13 in the West Bank this year. The fast is largely observed across the Muslim world; voluntarily in some countries and under strict enforcement in others such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
