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In the middle of the fasting period of Ramadan, the Lebanese government has decided to delay the change of time by one month. This decision provoked the anger of part of the country and many disturbances.
What time is it in Lebanon? The question seems simple. However, the answer is more complex. In Beirut airport, a sign indicates two different times. “We just landed and we don’t even know what time it is”, says a young woman. Theoretically, the country was to switch to summer time, Sunday March 26. However, the government changed its mind 48 hours before, in particular to shorten the daily Ramadan fast. Result: nobody understands anything anymore.
A revealing situation
Lebanon is a country barely larger than Corsica, in which two different time zones coexist, according to religious criteria. A distressing situation for Adam Nabih Azzawy, a trader: “According to the Muslim calendar, it is 2:08 p.m. But for Christians, it is 3:08 p.m. What about this country where there are now two different times.” This disorder linked to schedules is indicative of the political crisis in Lebanon. Country in which the government, deeply divided, has difficulty in enforcing its decisions. A conciliation meeting is scheduled for Monday 27 March.