Kosovan miners observe Ramadan 800 meters below ground

Fasting is not an issue for us, but a lack of clean air, modern equipment, clothes and shoes is a big problem, says one of the miners

Kosovar miner Emin Hasani feels closer to God when he breaks the Ramadan fast 800 meters (2,625 feet) underground.

After a long and sweltering shift down the Trepca mine in Stanterg in northern Kosovo, Hasani checks a clock to know when the sun is setting at the surface and whether the time has come to eat.

Sitting around a small table in a makeshift office in the mine, he and four colleagues pull out dates, yogurt, pickles and cheese that they wash down with sugary black tea.

The men laugh and chat as they share the Iftar meal, which is eaten after a day of fasting between sunrise and sunset during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

“I am always connected with Allah, even now, when we are 800 meters underground,” Hasani said before reciting his prayers.

“The deeper I go, the closer I feel to Allah.”

Kosovo is a Muslim-majority country, and hundreds of miners in the state-owned lead, zinc and silver mines are observing Ramadan.

They sometimes endure temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius and extreme humidity.

“Fasting is not an issue for us, but a lack of clean air, modern equipment, clothes and shoes is a big problem,” said shift chief Fehmi Hajredini.

Source: Reuters

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