Congregational prayers to commence in Malé this week

Mass prayer held in Male' City. | Photo: Maldives Independent.

Malé, Maldives – The Islamic Ministry on Tuesday, announced their preparations to commence congregational prayers in all mosques of Malé before this coming Friday.

Congregational prayers were temporarily stopped in the Greater Malé region on May 12, due to the worsening Covid-19 situation in the capital city, with record number of daily cases. This was the second time, mass prayers were stopped in the capital city.

Islamic Minister Dr. Ahmed Zahir said, giving information to local media Adhadhu, that they are preparing to resume congregational prayers day after tomorrow, as they aim to do it before this Friday.

Minister added that although congregational prayers are being commenced, prayers will be done with social distancing. The ministry has faced criticism due to the prolonged closure of mosques in the capital city. Some people carried out last week’s Friday prayer at some mosques in the capital city, against the law.

This comes while Health Protection Agency (HPA) had recorded only 155 Covid-19 cases yesterday out of the 4,972 samples taken. As per the agency’s statistics, out of the new cases, 28 were from the Greater Malé area, while 70 cases were recorded from inhabited islands. The figures also included six cases from operational resorts and two from islands under development, bringing the total active cases in the country to 3,883.