On Saturday, Pakistani officials announced their decision to lift restrictions on congregational prayers at mosques. The decision was made in a meeting between the President, Arif Alvi, and several religious leaders a week before Ramadan, during which the size of the congregation is predicted to increase.
The Pakistani government clarified that the decision is supplemented by several safety measures in its 20-point plan, including disallowing people over 50 years of age, minors, and those suffering from flu from entering the mosques. Further, the premises of the mosques will be cleaned and sanitised regularly. Worshippers will also be required to maintain a distance of 2 metres while praying. The Pakistani government further reiterated that it reserved the right to review the decision if the guidelines were violated.
Less than a month ago, the Pakistani government decided to restrict prayers in mosques by allowing only 3-5 people at a time. This faced a backlash by several hardliners, who threatened to violate the restrictions. Over 50 senior clerics warned the government and urged them to abide by religious norms while fighting against COVID-19. Last Friday, “Muslims, the mosque is calling you” was one of the top trending topics on Twitter in Pakistan. The clerics, however, acknowledged the importance of precautionary measures to curb the spread of the outbreak.
The decision to lift the restriction on religious gatherings is contrary to global trends, wherein most countries are enforcing strict bans on religious congregations. This includes other Islamic countries, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Egypt. Several Arab countries also amended the azaan (call for prayer) by requesting people to pray in their homes.
Image Source: Vice
Amid Backlash, Pakistani Government Lifts Restrictions on Religious Gatherings
April 21, 2020
