President Adama Barrow has declared Saturday August 29th 2020 as a Public Holiday throughout The Gambia in observance of the Muslim New Year also known as Yawmul Ashura.
A State House statement said: “As the observance of the day coincides with the global Coronavirus pandemic, President Barrow urges Muslims to remember and pray for those who lost their lives because of the virus and wish those infected a speedy recovery.
“As ‘Yawmul Ashura’ is a time for special prayers, the President also urges all to pray for peace, stability, progress, and development in our country and around the globe.
“He also extends best wishes to all Muslims in The Gambia and abroad, in particular, the COVID Frontline workers in the various fields of operations a happy and blessed Yawmul Ashura.”
Yawmul Ashura commemorates the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) at the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (AD 680).
