Indiscipline At Eid Ul Fitr

Those who witnessed the celebration marking the end of the month-long period of fasting by Muslims in some parts of Accra were disappointed in the conduct of the celebrants.

While we do not hold anything against such celebrations, we frown upon acts of unruliness which instructively are in opposition to the tenets of Islam which stands for discipline.

A few years ago, one of such celebrations recorded fatalities occasioned by motorbike accidents. We won't be surprised if last Saturday's celebration recorded some injuries somewhat, given the scale of misconduct by ecstatic motor-riding youth.

Not only did the youthful celebrants imperil themselves, they did so other persons who had the right to use the public roads on which they were riding recklessly with no regard to other road users.

Such street misconduct, unacceptable as it is, has become an annual ritual demanding that law enforcement agents crack the whip to ensure that the right things are done.

We understand how such enforcement of the law can be misconstrued by those who do not see anything wrong with it. To obviate such challenge, the Police Administration must work on it with the Office of the National Chief Imam and other Islamic groupings.

From cramming themselves in the booths of cars to having two pillion riders on one motorbike and cruising at hair-raising speed, the young celebrants inconvenienced others at an intolerable level.

It is unfortunate that in their sermons Islamic clerics often speak out against the return to the unruly conduct by Muslims no sooner than they are done with the annual religious exercise of fasting yet the trend persists.

Islamic clerics and others must do more to rein in these unruly chaps who threaten the image of the faith in the eyes of those who do not understand Islam and the moral quality of the culprits. Some of them have little or no parental control and uneducated in both Western and Islamic education.

The inability of parents to control their children and the resultant effects on society could not be more glaring: society is paying dearly for the absurdity in varying forms.

We salute the law enforcement agents for the patience they exhibited as they exerted their authority to forestall eventualities.

It was not easy for them as the youth sought to repulse the necessary intervention.

It is our take that future celebrations should conform to Islamic values underpinned by discipline and above all, done in moderation; after all, excessiveness and obscene flamboyance is frowned upon by the faith.

Indeed the Islamic leadership should work together with law enforcement agents to obviate such unruly conduct in the name of celebrating the completion of the Ramadan fast.

Never again should we witness this nonsense, because it is un-Islamic and a breach of public order law.

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