In KChR mosques collective prayers suspended due to COVID-19

All the collective and Friday namazes (prayers) have been suspended in the mosques of the Karachay-Cherkessian Republic (KChR) by the decision of the republic’s Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) due to the spread of coronavirus. Believers are advised to hold the Eid al-Adha prayers in mosque yards or in spacious places.

The "Caucasian Knot" has also reported that mass services are prohibited in Dagestan. The bosses of the republic’s branch of the “Rospotrebnadzor” (Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing) have explained the need for new restrictions by a sharp increase in the coronavirus infection rate.

By the decision of the SAM of the KChR, collective and Friday namazes (prayers) were temporarily suspended in mosques, Ismail-Haji Berdiev, the republic’s Mufti and the chairman of the Coordination Centre of North-Caucasian Muslims, stated on July 10.

"This decision was made in accordance with epidemiologists’ recommendations in order to preserve our residents’ health in the context of coronavirus spread," the “Interfax” has quoted Mufti Berdiev as saying.

The Mufti has called on the Muslim clergy on the upcoming holiday of Eid al-Adha, which starts on July 20, to hold the festive prayers in compliance with all sanitary requirements in mosque yards or in spacious places.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 10, 2021 at 04:52 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.