Saudi Arabia has banned iftar meals in mosques ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, citing concerns about cleanliness inside mosque premises after eating the meal which follows a day of fasting.
The Saudi government stated that “iftar projects should not be carried out inside mosques out of concern for their cleanliness” in a notification published by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs last week.
“Imams and Muezzins should find 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 mosque imams and muezzins should not collect financial donations for iftar projects for those fasting.
In addition to the ban, it is forbidden to take pictures or use cameras on the mosque grounds, and broadcasting of prayers over the media, including the internet, is prohibited.
This year, the holy month of Ramadan is scheduled to start on March 10 and end on April 9.
