“Bonatiro has, like everyone else, to wait for Moon-Sighting Committee to determine the start of Eid Al Fitr,” highlighted Minister of Religious Affairs and Wakfs (endowment), Mohamed Aissa.
On his Facebook page, the Minister wrote that “as usual, we will witness, in the coming days, the frantic race to announce the exact date of Eid El Fitr.
“Only the Moon-Sighting Committee is entitled to decree the date of Eid El Fitr. And this, based on well-defined criteria,” underscored the official.
The Muslim calendar is determined by Moon phases making each month last either 29 or 30 days. Islamic years span on average between 354 and 355 days.
Earlier, Algerian astrophysics researcher Bonatiro expected that the feast marking the end of Ramadan is due to start on June 15th, adding that Ramadan would not be 30 days.