Lebanon woke up to two time zones this Sunday after the government decided to delay the start of daylight saving time until the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
In a decree, the Lebanese executive decided to postpone the time change until 00:00 on April 21.
While Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati offered no explanation, the local press indicated that the reason was Ramadan, which would allow believers to break the fast an hour earlier.
Ramadan started last Thursday and ends on April 20 in the Middle East.
This government decision provoked a wave of negative reactions, with some institutions rejecting the order.
Many Lebanese find themselves in a position where they have to combine work and school hours in different time zones.
In some cases, the discussion took on a sectarian character, with many politicians and Christian institutions, including the country’s largest church, the Maronite Church, rejecting the measure.
In a statement, the Maronite Church explained that “the sudden decision to postpone the summer time work for a month, taken by the interim Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, in an improvised manner and without consulting the Lebanese, and without regard to keep up with the norms internationally, and through confusion and prejudice (…) prevent the accession of the Maronite Patriarchate”.
For this reason, he added, “he undertakes to move the clock forward one hour at midnight from Saturday 25 to Sunday 26 [de março]”.
Other Christian institutions also took the same position.
For example, the Notre-Dame de Jamhour school published a small statement inviting “all parents and teachers and students to advance the class schedule from tonight, in accordance with international practice and Lebanese law that has been in place for decades.”
However, other official entities have adapted to the change, such as Lebanese airline Middle East Airlines, which some people on social networks say has caused confusion due to flight departure times.
The small Mediterranean country usually moves its clocks forward an hour on the last Sunday in March, in line with most European countries.
Source: DN
