Islam's holiest sites emptied by coronavirus crisis as Ramadan begins
16:41, 24/04/2020, FridayU: Update: 16:47, 24/04/2020, Friday
REUTERS
A worker cleans and sterilises the roof of Kaaba, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in the Grand mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia April 21, 2020. Picture taken April 21, 2020. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS
SOME EASING
In South Asia, Ramadan is expected to start on Saturday.
Leaders of India's 160 million Muslims have urged people to heed the nationwide lockdown throughout the month.
A large number of infections there were linked to a religious gathering of a Sunni missionary group. The Tablighi Jamaat event in mid-March drew participants from across India, neighbouring Bangladesh and even Indonesia and Malaysia.
The All India Islamic Centre of religious teaching will livestream recitations from the Koran, the Muslim holy book, every evening.
"This is the best way to pray to Allah and keep everyone safe," said its chairman, Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali.
Doctors in Pakistan are worried by the government's decision to lift curbs on mosque congregations for Ramadan.
Bangladesh has ordered mosques to restrict Ramadan evening prayers to 12 people and banned iftar gatherings, while Sri Lanka has closed mosques.
In Algeria, authorities shortened a night curfew and lifted a full lockdown in a province near the capital Algiers to accommodate Ramadan worship.
The Nigerien capital Niamey was calm but police and military remained out in force following violent protests against a curfew and closing of mosques.
"I invite you to have more patience because patience is the feature of the Muslim believer," Prime Minister Brigi Rafini said in an address to the nation.
