Ramadan message: Sturgeon praises Muslim community’s efforts

EDINBURGH: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has praised the efforts of Scotland’s Muslim community during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the past year, a number of mosques have offered their sites as testing or vaccination centres, while others have run services such as food parcels for those in need.

Speaking at the start of Ramadan, Sturgeon said she hoped Muslims across the country would still be able to meet following the easing of restrictions on inside worship.

Measures aimed at reducing the spread of the virus limited the number of people who could attend services to 25, however, the rules were recently relaxed to allow 50 attendees. “One thing that the pandemic has highlighted and will continue to highlight is the incredible commitment to charity and neighbourhood spirit that characterises our Muslim community – whether that is providing food parcels or going for shopping for the most vulnerable in our society, or offering your places of worship to be used for Covid testing and vaccination,” she said.

“It is through that community spirit that we have been able to vaccinate so many adults in Scotland already, a great tool in our armoury against Covid. I would urge anyone who is offered the vaccine to please take it. That hope that is presented by our vaccine rollout means that you can now look forward to marking Ramadan more normally in future.”

She added: “I recognise though that this year’s Ramadan will be exceptionally difficult for so many of you. It will be really tough not to be able to host people in your home or visit friends and family.

“Even though many of you will not be able to gather in your local mosque as you would normally, I hope the relaxations on communal worship can provide at least some comfort to you.

“The past year has been incredibly difficult for all of us and the time for prayer and reflection you have will provide an opportunity to remember those we have tragically lost to this dreadful virus...”