Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha as May and Welby issue warm messages

Muslims around the world today celebrated the Eid al-Adha holiday, one of the two most important festivals of the Islamic calendar.

Marking the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son on God's command, Muslims mark the holiday by slaughtering animals such as sheep and goats. The meat is shared among family and friends and also donated to the poor.

The Muslim faithful across continents marked the festival which comes as the annual Haj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia draws to a close.

In Jerusalem's Old City, Palestinians flocked to the al-Aqsa mosque for prayers.

In Iraq, authorities adopted tough security measures during the festival, searching worshippers as they entered Abdul-Qadir al-Gilani mosque in Baghdad.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad prayed at a mosque in the Damascus suburb of Daraya, which was evacuated by rebels and surrendered to government control last month, state media reported.

In Asia, tens of thousands of people left Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on crowded trains and ferries for their home-towns to celebrate the holiday with family and friends, while in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, Muslims attended morning prayers.

The festival was also celebrated across Africa, with the faithful in countries such as Somalia and Kenya attending mass prayers.

In Russia, thousands of Muslims gathered for prayers in Moscow.

In the UK, Prime Minister Theresa May released a video message to the country's Muslim community. "I am proud of the contribution British Muslims make to this country and proud that Britain is home to people from vibrant and diverse backgrounds," she said.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby tweeted his good wishes:

Additional reporting by Reuters.

News
Workshops attempt to eliminate endemic domestic violence in Egypt
Workshops attempt to eliminate endemic domestic violence in Egypt

One victim was told domestic violence was her cross to bear.

What is the significance of Thanksgiving for Christians?
What is the significance of Thanksgiving for Christians?

Every fourth Thursday of November, Americans mark Thanksgiving. American Thanksgiving is a relatively modern tradition, but the principle behind it has a long biblical basis and liturgical history. This is the story …

Mel Gibson's screenwriter says 'Passion' sequel emerged from talk about Protestantism
Mel Gibson's screenwriter says 'Passion' sequel emerged from talk about Protestantism

"We were having dinner one night, just the two of us in Dallas, and I said, 'You know, the thing we need to do is the Resurrection.'"

Christianity under siege in the world’s oldest Christian nation
Christianity under siege in the world’s oldest Christian nation

The government of the world’s oldest Christian nation, the first to raise the Cross above the crescent and the hammer and sickle alike, now persecutes its own clergy. The message is chilling: faith itself is a political crime in Armenia.