Tamer Shamy's butcher shop is all set for one of Islam's most important holidays — colorful blinking lights have been festooned around hanging slabs of meat, Egyptian pop music is blaring and a cluster of chairs and benches have been placed out front. The only thing missing is the customers.
Egyptians are feeling the squeeze from nearly 20 months of political turmoil that have gutted the nation's economy and brought home the meaning of the four-day Festival of Sacrifice, which begins Friday, marking the prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son for God.
"People are under a lot of pressure," Shamy said. "They have many expenses and not enough income to celebrate the holiday the way they used to."
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