Photos: Mosques reopen in Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem amid COVID-19 woes

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Photos: Mosques reopen in Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem amid COVID-19 woes

However, the Grand Mosque in Mecca will remain closed to the public

Published: May 31, 2020 16:51 Balaram Menon, Senior Web Editor and with inputs from AP

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Copy of 2020-05-31T063617Z_352938560_RC2IZG9NOPUJ_RTRMADP_3_HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-SAUDI-MOSQUES-1590926090169 — Men perform the Al Fajr prayer inside the Al Rajhi mosque, in Riyadh. Tens of thousands of mosques across Saudi Arabia reopened Sunday for the first time in more than two months, with worshipers ordered to follow strict guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as Islam's holiest site in Mecca remained closed to the public. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Saudi_45548.jpg-1a850~1-1590926073585 — A worshipper wearing a face mask and gloves as he prays the dawn prayers at Al Mirabi mosque in Jiddah. In Saudi Arabia, the government prepared for the reopening of around 90,000 mosques after sanitising prayer rugs, washrooms and shelves. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of 2020-05-31T070804Z_332977786_RC2JZG9TWDR3_RTRMADP_3_HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-SAUDI-MOSQUES-1590926083371 — The Ministry of Islamic Affairs said millions of text messages were sent to people in multiple languages to inform them about the new rules for public prayer, which include keeping a two-meter distance between people during prayer, wearing face masks at all times and abstaining from greeting one another with handshakes or hugs. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Saudi_03317.jpg-fef62~1-1590926093480 — Workers place a poster in Arabic which reads, "the precautionary measures and instructions inside mosques for Friday prayers" at Al Mirabi Mosque in Jiddah. Children under 15 years-old were not being allowed inside mosques. The elderly and those with chronic conditions were being told to pray at home. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Saudi_51681.jpg-8a8ed~1-1590926077288 — People are also being advised to perform the mandatory ablution at home since washrooms at mosques will be closed, to use hand sanitisers and to bring their own prayer rugs and copies of the Quran. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Saudi_04073.jpg-081e0-1590926097027 — The restrictions call for mosques to open just 15 minutes before each of the five daily prayers and to close 10 minutes after they conclude. Friday sermons and prayers are to last no longer than 15 minutes. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of 2020-05-31T071028Z_322198087_RC2JZG9MY8SP_RTRMADP_3_HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-SAUDI-MOSQUES-1590926086648 — The new measures come as Saudi Arabia and other countries around the world begin to loosen restrictions and stay-at-home orders following weeks of curfews and lock downs. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Saudi_79243.jpg-27a1e~1-1590926080084 — However, the Grand Mosque in Mecca will remain closed to the public. The city has been under a strict lock down for several weeks. While the mosque in Medina will be partially opened to the public to pray outside. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Saudi_05861.jpg-c0dcc~1-1590926071018 — Cleric Hammoud Al Labban recites the call to prayer as worshippers attend the dawn prayers at Al Mirabi Mosque in Jiddah. Despite taking early and unprecedented measures to curb the spread of the virus, Saudi Arabia has recorded more than 83,000 people contracting the virus, including 480 deaths. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of 034979-01-08-1590926058033 — The Al Aqsa Mosque (pictured) in Jerusalem, also reopened for prayers for the first time since it was closed in mid-March. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 034845-01-08-1590926041861 — With little regards for social distancing, throngs waited outside the holy site's gates before it opened early Sunday, with many wearing surgical masks. As they were allowed to enter, the faithful stopped to have their temperature measured. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of Israel_Palestinians_76003.jpg-2e486-1590926054683 — Men pray inside the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's old city. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of 2020-05-31T071829Z_977469137_RC2JZG9U6DXY_RTRMADP_3_HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-ISLAM-JERUSALEM-1590926067563 — A worshipper prays inside the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's old city. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Copy of 034841-01-08-1590926035897 — Men perform the dawn prayer (Al Fajr) inside the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's old city. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 034981-01-08-1590926061373 — Worshippers enter to pray at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 034843-01-08-1590926039013 — Men perform the dawn prayer (Al Fajr) inside the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of 034966-01-08 [1]-1590926064018 — A man prays inside the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Image Credit: AFP

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Copy of Israel_Palestinians_41753.jpg-95832~1-1590926045909 — People pray inside the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Israel_Palestinians_49767.jpg-e1ce1~1-1590926050776 — A ma prays inside the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's old city. Image Credit: AP

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