RIYADH, 3 March: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has banned iftar in mosques before the month of Ramadan, citing concerns about cleanliness inside the holy mosque.
On February 20, the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs issued a guideline for mosque employees to follow during Ramadan.
According to a note issued by the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, iftar programs have been banned in mosques due to the issue of cleanliness.
“The imams and muezzins should find a good place for iftar around the mosque and avoid setting up a tent for it in the mosque”, the notice said.
The ministry emphasized that Imams and muezzins should not collect any kind of financial assistance to arrange Iftar programs.
Along with this ban, the Saudi ministry also discouraged taking videos and photos during prayers in mosques. It said that prayers should not be broadcast on any media, including social media.
