No iftar gathering this Ramzan for inmates: Tihar Jail administration

New Delhi: The Muslim inmates in Tihar Jail would be advised to pray and have iftar in solitude and no gathering would be permissible, the Tihar Jail administration clarified on Thursday. This means that unlike previous years the inmates fasting in the Holy month of Ramzan would be asked to have iftar ( The breaking of the fast in the evening) on their own and no provisions would be made for mass iftar parties or gathering keeping in view the Coronavirus pandemic.

"This year in Ramzan we would not allow inmates to sit together and do iftar. We would be strictly following the social distancing. The inmates could buy their own items from the canteen and do iftar while siting at a distance. This is ensured to make sure that proper precautions are taken when the gatherings of any kind are not permitted," says Tihar Jail PRO Rajkumar.

Unlike on previous occasions where various NGOs also engaged in arranging iftar parties, this year the Tihar administration has decided not to allow any such NGO to offer iftar to inmates.

"This is being done on a precautionary basis. Earlier several NGO approached us offering to organise iftar parties for inmates. This year as things are quite different we will ask inmates to have their iftar while sitting at a distance maintaining all social distancing norms," the officer said.

Same would be the case with pre dawn meals that is 'Sehri' during Ramzan and strict social distancing would be followed.

Various clerics and influential persons in the Muslim community have already appealed to Muslims to pray at home during the crises. Also, the traditional Taraweeh prayers would not be

offered in congregation this year in an attempt to avoid gathering during the Corona Virus crises which is highly infectious.