Coronavirus: 'The spirit of Eid has gone but celebrations continue'

Muslim leaders in Bradford and Blackburn have criticised the government for bringing in stricter rules "two hours before the start of Eid"

New "last-minute" lockdown rules mean "the spirit of Eid has gone", a Muslim leader has said.

Bradford Council of Mosques President Zulfi Karim said Muslims were angry at the timing of the announcement - but he said it would not end Eid celebrations despite many having to cancel plans.

The restrictions ban separate households in parts of northern England from meeting each other at home.

The government said "immediate action" was needed due to a Covid-19 spike.

The festival of Eid-Ul-Adha began on Thursday night and finishes on Monday.

Mr Karim said: "Imagine it's Christmas and you get this bombshell?

"Coming together of friends and family is actually a major part of the day of Eid - it's a sharing of food and gifts and coming together."

The government has denied the new restrictions are aimed at curtailing Eid celebrations

He added: "It's a disappointment because we've bought toys for our grandkids. Our nieces and nephews were due to travel up from Birmingham, but they won't be coming now.

"We've cancelled all plans."

He said the celebrations would continue even though plans had been "scuppered" for many Muslims.

Imam Qari Asim urged Muslims to celebrate at home

Saima Afzal, a Blackburn councillor, criticised the way the government imposed the new rules.

"Why did the government leave it so late? Two hours before Eid, giving them little time to reconfigure," she said.

"The issue for me is the timing, it's really unfortunate.

"The lack of clarity for every community, not just Muslims, it's so last-minute."

Qari Asim, a senior Imam in Leeds, urged people to "remain safe" by celebrating at home. He said it was "just as effective as being in larger groups".

"BAME communities have been disproportionately affected during Covid-19 and therefore we need to take extra precautionary measures," he said.

"There has been a sense of deflation and disappointment as restrictions have been placed on Hajj for the first time in such a manner. But we are not alone. Other faith communities have had to make sacrifices. We hope these spiritual sacrifices will enable us all to defeat Covid-19 together."

He said he did not want the situation "to give rise to Islamophobia, hateful narratives that some groups will try to exploit when Eid celebrations commence" and asked for people to be respectful during the celebrations.

Aisha Hussain, on right, described the government's move as "very disappointing"

Aisha Hussain, who lives in Bradford with her family, said they had spent "a lot of hours" on preparations to celebrate Eid-Ul-Adha with other relatives at their home and called the timing of No 10's announcement "not fair".

The family learnt the news during a family party on Friday, forcing her aunt, who had planned to stay with them, to book a hotel to stay at.

She told the BBC: "It's very disappointing. I feel like we should have been prepared, some consideration should have been taken."

She said that while she understood that "scientific facts are facts", it was "the government's responsibility to consider all of us".

"It's not just a small number of people, it's a large number of people that this is affecting."

Mosques are still open to worshippers under the new regulations

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has denied the new restrictions, which affect people in Greater Manchester, east Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire, are aimed at curtailing Eid celebrations.

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He said: "My heart goes out to the Muslim communities in these areas because I know how important the Eid celebrations are.

"I'm very grateful to the local Muslim leaders, the imams in fact, across the country who've been working so hard to find a way to have Covid-secure celebrations."

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