Kuwait to reopen mosques in some areas this week

Kuwait will reopen mosques in some areas on Wednesday, June 10, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has confirmed.

Mosques in the country have been closed for the last three months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mosques in “model residential” and “sparsely-populated” areas, will receive worshippers for the five daily prayers starting with the noon prayers on Wednesday, the official Kuwait news agency KUNA quoted the minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Fahad Al-Afasi, as saying.

He clarified that the weekly Friday noon prayer and sermon will only take place at the Grand Mosque in Kuwait City and will be broadcast on the official channel Kuwait TV.

Only the mosque’s preacher and staff will be allowed to attend this prayer, the minister said.

Al-Afasi noted that the ministry had “completed all preparations for reopening mosques and will abide by all preventive and precautionary measures outlined by the state’s health authorities to prevent the spread of the virus”.

Kuwait has so far reported 31,848 Covid-19 cases, with the death toll at 264.

The country is currently in the midst of a phased reopening of its economy following a strict lockdown which ended on May 30. However, certain areas continue to face restrictions.

Read: Kuwait begins phased plan to reopen economy, over a million expats remain in lockdown

Neighbouring Saudi Arabia also reopened over 90,000 mosques last week as the kingdom began the second phase of easing lockdown restrictions.

Mosques in the kingdom were closed for two months to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Read: Saudi begins phase two of easing lockdown: Mosques reopen, fines revealed for violators