In This Kerala Story, A Church Allows Thousands of Muslims to Offer Eid Prayers on Its Campus

Thiruvananthapuram: In an exemplary show of secularism and communal harmony, a church in Malappuram in Kerala opened up its premises to thousands of Muslims to hold their Eid prayers on its grounds on Wednesday.

In Kerala, Eid was celebrated on Wednesday.

During past years, the Muslim community in Manjeri usually held its Eid prayers at the nearby Government Upper Primary School. But this year, the school premises were taken over for the Lok Sabha elections.

When the Eid celebration committee approached the church, its priest, Father Joy Masilamani, instantly agreed to open the six-acre premises of the church for the Eid prayers.

The Eid committee quickly made necessary arrangements in time for the Eid prayer on church grounds.

The priest told The Telegraph that he was approached after the Eid celebration committee learned about the unavailability of the school premises for the prayers.

Muslim preacher Saudheen Salahi, based in Manjeri, praised the decision of the church and called for similar acts of cooperation and love from all faiths across the country.