Beirut, March 27 (BNA): Lebanon woke up in two time zones on Sunday, amid an escalating dispute between the political and religious authorities over the decision to postpone the change of the clock for a month.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati decided on Thursday not to start daylight savings time during the last weekend of March – as it usually does in Lebanon, Europe and other regions – but instead to move the clocks forward an hour on April 20.
Although no reason was given for the decision, it was widely seen as a concession to Muslims, allowing those staying for the holy month of Ramadan to break their fast at around 6pm instead of 7pm, Reuters reported.
But the Lebanese Maronite Church, the largest Christian church in the country, announced that it would not abide by the decision, saying there had been no consultations or considerations of international standards.
Turning their clocks forward, other Christian organizations, parties, and schools have announced similar plans. Lebanon’s Education Minister Abbas al-Halabi said on Sunday that schools would operate in summer time, contrary to the government’s decision.
Meanwhile, Islamist institutions and parties appear poised to survive the winter, deepening divisions in a country rocked by a 1975-1990 civil war between Christian and Muslim factions and where seats in parliament are allocated by religious sects.
Media companies and organisations, including two of Lebanon’s main news channels – LBCI and MTV – have announced that they will also enter daylight savings time. “Lebanon is not an island,” LBCI said in a statement.
Others have tried to adapt.
Lebanon’s national carrier, Middle East Airlines, said its hours would remain in the winter but would adjust its flight times to align with international schedules.
WWA