Gradual Reopening of 5,000 Mosques Distributed in Proportion to Their Number in Each Zone

Mercredi 15 Juillet 2020

Rabat - A total of 5,000 mosques will be reopened throughout the national territory, distributed in proportion to their number in each zone, minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, announced Tuesday.

In response to an oral question at the House of Advisors on "preventive measures taken in anticipation of the reopening of the mosques", the minister said that it was decided that the mosques will reopen their doors to the faithful gradually in order to accomplish the five prayers on Wednesday starting from the Dhuhr prayer.

He specified that this reopening will take into consideration the epidemiological situation at the local level as well as the health control requirements and the distribution of mosques to be reopened in each prefecture and province.

The steps taken, Toufiq explained, are part of the organizational and as well as measures taken by the ministry in close coordination with the relevant departments in anticipation of the gradual opening of mosques, following consultations with health and administrative authorities. They are also part of the process of easing the restrictions associated with the state of emergency until the situation in these facilities returns to normal, which requires a series of health and awareness-raising measures aimed at protecting the faithful.

In this context, the minister indicated that a protocol has been established with a series of organizational and preventive measures, mainly focused on the mobilization of all human resources and coordination with local authorities to form local committees installed in front of mosques to provide the necessary equipment. The list of mosques that will reopen will also be announced on the ministry's official website and on the doors of the mosques, he said.

According to Toufiq, the measures include preparing the mosques and taking the necessary steps to avoid congestion at the entrances and exits of these facilities, as well as fixing the spaces reserved for prayer in order to respect the recommended physical distance (one and a half meters minimum), ventilating the mosques by opening their doors and windows, and making the faithful aware of the need to respect the health rules in place.

It was also decided to maintain the suspension of religious activities, religious preaching and guidance courses, scientific chairs, literacy courses in mosques and reading of the Holy Quran, the minister pointed out.



Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Gradual-Reopeni...

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