Saudi Arabia’s crown prince bans iftar in mosques during Ramadan

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – The Saudi Arabian Prince Mohammad Bin Salman has banned iftar in mosques ahead of the holy month of Ramadan citing concerns about cleanliness inside mosque premises after iftar meals.

In a notice released by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs last week, the Saudi Arabian government stated that “iftar projects should not be carried out inside mosques out of concern for their cleanliness”.

“Imams and Muezzins should fine an appropriate place for iftar in the courtyards of the mosques. No temporary rooms or tents should be created for this purpose,” the notice added.

The Ministry also stressed that imams and muezzins should not collect financial donations for iftar projects for those fasting.

Along with the bans, using cameras and photography inside the mosque premises is also discouraged and prayers should not be broadcast on any form of media, including online media.

The holy month of Ramadan is set to begin on March 10 and conclude by April 9 this year.