Govt. imposes nationwide ban on mass prayers in mosques

Islamic Ministry, on Sunday, announced a temporary halt in prayer congregations in mosques nationwide.

The Islamic Ministry announced this evening that mass prayers in mosques in all islands were to be suspended, starting Magrib prayer this Sunday to up until Asr prayer on April 30.

The decision follows a sharp escalation in COVID-19 cases in Male’, and a possible case outside the capital, in H. A. Uligan.

Islamic Ministry said the decision was taken under counsel from the Fatwa Council and other Islamic scholars.

The expansion of the ban on mass prayer to include all islands comes less than 24 hours after the Islamic Ministry had expanded the original order, which had only applied to the Greater Male’ Area and resort islands, to include Addu City and Fuvahmulah City.

Islamic Ministry had advised people to remain diligent in performing daily prayers at home, and to increase sunnah prayers, recitation of the Holy Quran and other religious practices.

16 new cases have been reported in Male’ this Sunday, increasing the total virus cases in the capital to 31, and cases nationwide to 51. Meanwhile a screening test on a resident in H. A. Uligan who made a recent trip to Male’ has come back positive for the virus, and authorities are following up with a confirmation test. It the results of the second test also come back positive, it will mark a further escalation by being the first case in a residential island outside of the capital.

The escalation comes less than a week ahead of the Holy month of Ramadan.