Lebanon’s government has announced that summer time will begin on April 21, instead of the usual last weekend of March. The reasons for this change have not been fully explained, but it is believed to take into account the Muslim holiday of Ramadan which lasts until April 20. However, this decision has caused controversy, particularly among Christian politicians and institutions. The Maronite Church, the largest church in Lebanon, has rejected the time shift. Many private organizations, such as TV channels, schools, and businesses, have also chosen to disregard the government’s decision and have switched to daylight saving time. Public institutions, however, are required to comply with the government’s order, while the country’s two mobile phone networks have urged people to manually adjust the time on their phones while they wait for the delayed daylight saving time. Even some Muslims have expressed their dissatisfaction with the change, arguing that the timing of the fast is connected to sunrise and sunset, rather than the time zone.
On Thursday, Lebanon’s government announced that it will change the clock to summer time on April 21 instead of the last weekend in March.
The government’s decision has apparently not been justified, but according to information, must be taken into consideration for those who are fasting during the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, which lasts until April 20, reports the news agency AP.
religious schism
The issue of the switch to summer time is hotly debated in the country. Christian politicians and institutions, including the country’s largest church, the Maronite Church, have rejected the time shift. Many private players, including TV channels, schools and businesses, have also chosen to ignore the government’s decision and switched to daylight saving time.
Public institutions, on the other hand, are bound to follow the government’s decision and the country’s two mobile phone networks have urged people to manually change back the time on their phones to wait for the delayed daylight saving time.
Even Muslims have protested the change, pointing out that fasting is tied to sunrise and sunset, not time zone.