Iran starts to open mosque, Saudi Arabia still maintains mosque closure

Although new infections from Covid-19 continue to grow, Iran and Senegal have decided to relax the motion restriction order. One form, namely by opening more mosques and other places of worship. Saudi Arabia still maintains the policy of closing mosques in its territory as part of efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The Director of the Islamic Development Agency of Iran, Mohammad Qomi, said that the mosque was opened on three odd nights after the 20th of Ramadan or starting Wednesday (05/13/2020). The decision was consulted with the Ministry of Health.

For Muslims, the odd night after 20 Ramadan is the most important time for worship during the fasting month. They used to multiply worship, and some chose to remain in the mosque on odd nights after 20 Ramadan or the so-called iktikaf. This worship is difficult if the mosque is closed, as happened in the middle of this pandemic.

Qomi has not yet announced exact dates for the opening of the mosques. Also not announced, whether the mosque will still be opened after odd nights. As quoted by two Iranian news agencies, IRIB and Tasnim, the opening of the mosque was decided after an order to restrict movement was relaxed in parts of Iran.

Mosques in 180 cities in Iran have reportedly held Friday prayers again last week. The decision followed the re-opening of 132 mosques, which were closed in March-April, in areas where for some time there were no reports of Covid-19 infection.

Iran will also open schools again next week. Previously, shopping centers and intercity travel transportation facilities were permitted to open and operate again. The easing is still being taken even though experts have warned of the danger of a surge in infection amid increased movement and associations of people.

Mosques in Senegal

Besides Iran, the decision to relax restrictions on movement was also applied by Senegal. Senegalese President Macky Sall announced that mosques and churches could be reopened. The market may also be opened for six days a week. The market must be closed one day for cleaning once a week.

In the best-case scenario, a new type of virus, Covid-19, will continue to spread in Senegal for the shortest time in the next four months.

Sall urges its citizens to maintain health and cleanliness. He acknowledged, Covid-19 has not disappeared from the country in west Africa. In the best-case scenario, a new type of virus, Covid-19, will continue to spread in Senegal for the shortest time in the next four months.

"We need to learn to live with the presence of viruses," said Sall.

Sall also announced a curfew reduction, from 20:00 to 06:00 to 21:00 to 05.00. The announcement made Senegal overtake a number of other countries in Africa who were easing restrictions on movement.

Saudi Arabia policy

Saudi Arabia has also begun to relax restrictions on movement in a number of provinces and cities. As reported by Arab News and Al Arabiya, total isolation in Jazan, Daman and al-Ahsan was reduced from 24 hours a day to only 16 hours a day, starting at 17:00 and ending at 09.00. Shopping centers in Riyadh are also permitted to operate again as long as they are able to enforce distance orders.

However, until Tuesday, Saudi Arabia has yet to reopen the two holiest mosques, the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, to the public. Many other mosques have also not been allowed to open to the public.

Before the pandemic, the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina were always crowded with Muslims from a number of countries, especially during the month of Ramadan. On the odd nights of Ramadan, many Muslims choose to remain in the mosques throughout the night.

Separately, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan instead tightened restrictions on movement. Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir, which are the largest cities in Turkey, are still ordered to carry out isolation. As for other cities, total isolation is imposed again on Saturday to next Tuesday. Previously, apart from the three largest cities, restrictions on movement began to be relaxed in Turkey.

Source: compass

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