Libya: mosques reopened in Tripoli for the first time in seven months

Mosques in the Libyan capital Tripoli and its surroundings reopened their doors to worshipers on Friday after nearly seven months of closure due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Government of National Unity (GNA) authorized Tuesday, October 6 the reopening of mosques from Friday afternoon to give those responsible for these places of worship, closed since mid-March, time to prepare the places and the faithful to the new sanitary rules.

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In addition to wearing a mask, compulsory in especially closed public places, the faithful must respect physical distancing, bring their own prayer rugs and perform their ablution at home before going to mosques.

"

" Abdel Monem Al-Rayani, imam of the Jaafar ibn Abi mosque told AFP. Talib in Janzour, on the western outskirts of Tripoli.

Praying in the mosque is a "

" for Libyans, especially since Islam is "

", recalled the imam.

But to respect physical distancing and prevent the spread of the virus, mosques can only accommodate half of their capacity, he added.

Since mid-March and until this afternoon, all the calls to prayer added this formula: "

".

According to Imam al-Rayani, mosques which do not respect the "

"

recommendations

of the Awqafs and Zakate, authorities in charge of religious affairs, or if cases of Covid-19 are recorded, "

" .