Editing Ramadan (section)

== Laws ==
In some [[List of Muslim majority countries|Muslim countries]], eating in public during daylight hours in Ramadan is a [[crime]].<ref name="Ramadan 2019: 9 questions about the Muslim holy month you were too embarrassed to ask">{{cite web|title=Ramadan 2019: 9 questions about the Muslim holy month you were too embarrassed to ask|url= https://www.vox.com/2017/5/25/11851766/what-is-ramadan-2019-start-date-muslim-islam-about|publisher= Vox|date= 6 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="Breaking Pakistan's Ramadan Fasting Laws Has Serious Consequences">{{cite news|title=Breaking Pakistan's Ramadan Fasting Laws Has Serious Consequences|newspaper= NPR.org|url= https://www.npr.org/2018/05/25/614315937/breaking-pakistan-s-ramadan-fasting-laws-have-serious-consequences|publisher= NPR}}</ref><ref name="Break down by region">{{cite web|title=Not so fast! Ramadan laws in Arab countries make you think twice before digging in|url= https://www.albawaba.com/slideshow/not-so-fast-ramadan-laws-these-arab-countries-will-make-you-think-twice-digging-709066|publisher= Albawaba News}}</ref> The sale of alcohol becomes prohibited during Ramadan in [[Egypt]].<ref>"[http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/48444/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-tourism-minister-confirms-alcohol-prohibiti.aspx Egypt's tourism minister 'confirms' alcohol prohibition on Islamic holidays beyond Ramadan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811064259/http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/48444/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-tourism-minister-confirms-alcohol-prohibiti.aspx |date=11 August 2013 }}," ''[[Al-Ahram]]'', 22 July 2012.</ref> The penalty for publicly eating, drinking or smoking during Ramadan can result in fines or incarceration in the countries of [[Kuwait]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.moi.gov.kw/portal/vEnglish/pressrel.asp?objectid=%7B220CBBC3-8EA9-4835-A491-C368B0689E55%7D&catid=%7B506BD210-2218-41DE-9648-30A1C3AAD0F6%7D&year=&relid=%7B57BF4B27-AAFB-4F61-9065-B013FA96A464%7D |title=Press release by Kuwait Ministry Of Interior |access-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009151115/https://www.moi.gov.kw/portal/vEnglish/pressrel.asp?objectid=%7B220CBBC3-8EA9-4835-A491-C368B0689E55%7D&catid=%7B506BD210-2218-41DE-9648-30A1C3AAD0F6%7D&year=&relid=%7B57BF4B27-AAFB-4F61-9065-B013FA96A464%7D |archive-date=9 October 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | title = KD 100 fine, one month prison for public eating, drinking | newspaper = Friday Times | publisher = Kuwait Times Newspaper | date = 21 August 2009 | url = http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTE3NDM5MzY5NA | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200107124956/http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTE3NDM5MzY5NA  | archive-date = 7 January 2020 | access-date = 17 November 2009 }}</ref> [[Saudi Arabia]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Ramadan in Saudi Arabia: Taking it to heart|url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21700396-kingdom-treats-holy-month-more-seriously-anywhere-else-taking-it|access-date=11 June 2016|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|date=11 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610210452/http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21700396-kingdom-treats-holy-month-more-seriously-anywhere-else-taking-it|archive-date=10 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ramadan warning for expats in Saudi Arabia |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/9422969/Ramadan-warning-for-expats-in-Saudi-Arabia.html |website=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=11 March 2019 |date=24 July 2012 |last1=Hyslop |first1=Leah |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020011822/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/9422969/Ramadan-warning-for-expats-in-Saudi-Arabia.html |archive-date=20 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jul/10/ramadan-numbers Ramadan in numbers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512000111/https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jul/10/ramadan-numbers |date=12 May 2017 }}, 10 July 2013, ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref> [[Morocco]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-06 |title=Morocco's Penal Code and Public Eating in Ramadan |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2016/06/188332/moroccos-penal-code-and-public-eating-in-ramadan |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=moroccoworldnews.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Latrech |first=Oumaima |date=2022-04-27 |title=Ramadan: 80 Moroccans Arrested for Publicly Eating in Casablanca |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/04/348649/ramadan-80-moroccans-arrested-for-publicly-eating-in-casablanca |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=moroccoworldnews.com |language=en}}</ref> [[Algeria]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Algerians jailed for breaking Ramadan fast |url=http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/10/07/57856.html |work=Al Arabiya News |date=7 October 2008  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211144838/http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/10/07/57856.html |archive-date=11 December 2008 }}</ref> and [[Malaysia]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://poskod.my/features/ramadan-fasting-fines-malaysia/ |title=The Hard and Fast Rules of Ramadan |work=Poskod Malaysia |access-date=14 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414081040/https://poskod.my/features/ramadan-fasting-fines-malaysia/ |archive-date=14 April 2019 |url-status=live |date=14 July 2015 }}</ref> In the [[United Arab Emirates]], the punishment is community service.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Salama | first = Samir | title = New penalty for minor offences in UAE | newspaper = Gulf News | location = Dubai, UAE | publisher = Al Nisr Publishing LLC | date = 16 July 2009 | url = http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/crime/new-penalty-for-minor-offences-in-uae-1.492892 | access-date = 17 November 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100301171003/http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/crime/new-penalty-for-minor-offences-in-uae-1.492892 | archive-date = 1 March 2010  }}</ref>

In some countries, on the contrary, the observance of Ramadan has been restricted by governments. In the [[USSR]], the practice of Ramadan was suppressed by officials.<ref>{{cite book|title=When Economies Change Paths: Models of Transition in China, the Central Asian Republics, Myanmar & the Nations of Former Indochine Française|page=162|author= Leo Paul Dana}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Former Soviet Union's Diverse Peoples: A Reference Sourcebook|page=133|author=James Minahan}}</ref> In Albania, Ramadan festivities were banned during the communist period.<ref>{{cite book|title=Islamic Beliefs, Practices, and Cultures|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|page=165}}</ref> However, many Albanians continued to fast secretly during this period.<ref>{{cite news|title=In Albania, Ramadan under lockdown revives memories of communism|date=2020-04-25 |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1664866/world|publisher=[[Arab News]]}}</ref>

China is reported to have banned Ramadan fasting for officials, students, and teachers in [[Xinjiang]] since 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cagnassola |first=Mary Ellen |date=2021-05-06 |title=170 mosques destroyed in China's Xinjiang crackdown, Australian think tank says |url=https://www.newsweek.com/170-mosques-destroyed-chinas-xinjiang-crackdown-australian-think-tank-says-1589240 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220317141748/https://www.newsweek.com/170-mosques-destroyed-chinas-xinjiang-crackdown-australian-think-tank-says-1589240 |archive-date=17 March 2022 |website=[[Newsweek]] |language=en |access-date=17 March 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2012-08-01 |title=China region bans Muslims from fasting during Ramadan |work=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]], [[Agence France Presse]] |url=https://www.thenational.ae/uae/china-region-bans-muslims-from-fasting-during-ramadan-1.405759}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=China bans Muslims from fasting Ramadan in Xinjiang |work=[[Al-Jazeera English]], [[Agence France Presse]] |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/china-bans-ramadan-fasting-muslim-region-150618070016245.html}}</ref> [[Radio Free Asia]] alleges that residents in [[Kashgar Prefecture]] are compelled to film proof of eating for officials and are encouraged to report those who fasted to the authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/fasting-05142020144511.html|title=Residents of Uyghur-Majority County in Xinjiang Ordered to Report Others Fasting During Ramadan|date=14 May 2020|access-date=17 May 2020|website=[[Radio Free Asia]]|author=[[Shohret Hoshur]] |author2=Joshua Lipes |translator=Elise Anderson, Alim Seytoff}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hoshur |first=Shohret |author-link=Shohret Hoshur |date=2025-03-18 |title=China forces Uyghurs to show video proof they are not fasting during Ramadan |url=https://www.rfa.org/english/uyghur/2025/03/18/uyghur-ramadan-fasting-proof/ |work=[[Radio Free Asia]]}}</ref> The ban has been denied by Chinese diplomats<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-07 |title=Come see China Muslim culture for yourselves, embassy says |url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/475244 |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=[[Malaysiakini]]}}</ref> and Muslim associations in Xinjiang.<ref>{{Cite web |last=M. Irfan Ilmie, Atman Ahdiat |date=2021-03-18 |title=Uighur Muslim Community invites global media to witness Ramadan rituals |url=https://www.antaranews.com/berita/2050526/komunitas-muslim-uighur-undang-media-global-saksikan-ritual-ramadhan |website=[[Antara News]] |language=id}}</ref> [[Antara (news agency)|Antara News]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-14 |title=Muslims in Xinjiang begin Ramadan |url=https://www.jawapos.com/hijrah-ramadan/14/04/2021/umat-muslim-di-xinjiang-mulai-menjalankan-puasa-ramadan/ |website=[[Jawa Pos]], [[Antara News]] |language=id}}</ref> [[Daily Times (Pakistan)|''Daily Times'']],<ref>{{Cite web |last=S M Hali |date=2019-12-13 |title=Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 — a harsh step |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/519333/uyghur-human-rights-policy-act-of-2019-a-harsh-step/ |website=[[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and ''[[Pakistan Today]]'' have also brought up accounts of residents in Xinjiang fasting.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2, 2016 |title=No restriction over Muslims to observe Ramzan in Xinjiang: JI spokesperson |url=https://archive.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/07/02/no-restriction-over-muslims-to-observe-ramzan-in-xinjiang-ji-spokesperson/ |website=[[Pakistan Today]] |language=en-GB |access-date=17 March 2022 |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703091525/https://archive.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/07/02/no-restriction-over-muslims-to-observe-ramzan-in-xinjiang-ji-spokesperson/  }}</ref> According to a 2024 visit to Xinjiang by a reporter from the British magazine The Economist, many Uyghurs do not fast during Ramadan because, according to locals, "the Chinese government guarantees freedom of religion".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/china/2024/04/11/what-ramadan-is-like-in-xinjiang|title=What Ramadan is like in Xinjiang|newspaper=The Economist |accessdate=1 March 2025}}</ref>