A file photo shows deployed security forces to secure citizens during national holidays. Al-Ahram
Measures and plans include increasing security presence, the stationing of the rapid deployment forces in all vital squares and institutions, and the spread of women policemen, a security statement read.
The ministry also announced intensifying traffic services on all axes and highways and deploying emergency vehicles to provide assistance to citizens and maintain the safety of car drivers.
The security directorates in all governorates will also ensure that police personnel remain fully vigilant, perform their duties with utmost attention to detail and provide good treatment to citizens during the implementation of the security plan.
The ministry said it has also prepared an intensive security deployment plan in areas where citizens gather, including parks, gardens, cinemas and on the Nile River.
The security plan during Eid El-Fitr comes as part of annual measures announced by the interior ministry to secure celebrations during the year, especially religious holidays.
Egypt's cabinet has designated the period between 30 April and 5 May a paid holiday for public employees, extending from Labour Day, which falls on 1 May, to the end of Eid El-Fitr holidays.
Eid El-Fitr is one of two major religious holidays in Islam – along with Eid El-Adha, which falls on the 10th day of Dhu El-Hijjah, the 12th month on the Islamic Hijri calendar.
Muslims will be able to perform Eid El-Fitr prayers of the Islamic year 1443 in the early morning on Monday at 5:36am in Cairo, according to astronomical calculations, with slight differences in time in other governorates.
Egypt’s Ministry of Religious Endowments allocated on Saturday 600 outdoor spaces at large mosques nationwide for the millions of worshippers who are expected to partake in the Eid prayers, ending a ban on outdoor Eid prayers – in place since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
In a statement on Friday, the endowments ministry said that mosques across the country will be allowed to open their doors for congregants at least 30 minutes before the prayers to utter the Takbeerat – a set of religious supplications chanted ahead of Eid Prayers.
Areas designated for women in large mosques nationwide will be open as well, the ministry stressed.
“Children will be allowed [this year] to attend the prayer to bring cheer and joy to them,” the ministry added.
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi exchanged greeting messages on Sunday with the leaders of Arab and Muslim countries on the occasion of Eid El-Fitr.
In his messages, the president expressed good wishes to the leaders and their peoples, praying for further prosperity and progress to the Arab and Muslim nations.
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