Tajikistan temporarily restricts mosque visits over coronavirus fears
All mosques in Tajikistan will be closed as a protective measure against coronavirus, spokesman of the Committee on Religion Affairs Afshin Muqim informed reporters. “It is a direct preventive decision made by the Council of Ulems and representatives of mosques. It was decided taking into account the current situation and the recommendations of Tajikistan’s Islamic Center. Parishioners are asked to temporarily refrain from visiting mosques,” he said. In turn, Deputy Minister of Health of Tajikistan Mirhamuddin Kamolzoda said “in order to prevent the possible spread of a new type of coronavirus in public places, mosque visits for collective prayers are temporarily restricted”. Similar decision had been adopted by other Muslim countries as well. “Even the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended entry for individuals seeking to perform Umrah or “lesser pilgrimage” to Mecca (Small Hajj),” the spokesman of the Committee on Religion Affairs added. According to the Committee, there are 3,950 mosques operating in Tajikistan, including 48 cathedral mosques and one Islamic center; 99% of the country’s population are Muslim.
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