If you live in a Muslim country, then you know what Ramadan is like. In Egypt regardless of whether you are a Muslim or not, you are affected by this "holly months".
The Islamic code of ramadan entails that you can not eat, drink, or fornicate during the fasting hours which are from sunrise till sunset. that is about 14 hours. Eating or drinking during these hours publicly is considered a taboo.
"Authorities in southern Egypt have arrested 155 Christians and other non-Muslims for publicly eating and drinking during the holy month of Ramadan." [Baptist post]
In the American University in Cairo, Ramadan is very different. You can eat, drink, and smoke and mostly no one would say anything. Some people might give you dirty looks but that is about it. You would find people fasting as they hangout with people who are not. Everyone is free to do what he pleases and that is one thing i respect about the AUC.
I went to campus with my camera and a sign that says welcome Ramadan and asked students who are breaking the Ramadan code to pose to the camera. Many said they wouldn't pose with food or drinks or cigarettes as they do not want any outsiders to know that they are not fasting. Some even said that they fear getting arrested, Nonetheless alot were confident and carefree about the fact that they are not fasting.
Some people around campus belive that it is okay for you to smoke while fasting. while Islamic scholars clearly state that it is not allowed, and that it breaks you fast. they say that they do so because they believe that fasting is about cleansing the soul by refraining from temptation and that refraining from food is enough.
Ramadan in AUC proves that AUC is a place that supports personal freedoms, since students do not have to pretend to fast on campus, unless they are really fasting.
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