Muslims across the globe celebrated Eid al-Fitr last Friday, the official end to the holy month of Ramadan, and most in the Hudson Valley say they're not distracted by talks of Quran burnings and 9/11 protests.
Anees Shaikh, of the Upper Westchester Muslim Society, says there have definitely been distractions lately, but that Eid is the more important issue. "Many in the community have been thinking and talking about it, but this is a celebration of devotion and spirituality, and we are focusing on worship," he says.
The holiday is a celebration of the purity achieved after a month of sunrise-to-sunset fasting required of devotees during the month of Ramadan.