Ramadan hit by Islamist violence across globe

As the world’s estimated 1.6 billion Muslims marked the beginning of Ramadan this weekend, the holy season is marred by unprecedented turmoil, violence and sectarian hatreds that threaten to rip apart the Middle East.

Syria is bleeding. Militants have taken over large parts of Iraq. Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Egypt are battling Islamic extremists.

Though the bloodshed has eroded much of the Ramadan joy, millions of Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims will fast for hours, hoping for God’s acceptance.

A holy month of abstinence from food, drink and other pleasures from sunrise to sunset, Muslims believe Ramadan is the time God began to reveal the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.