Mufti of Dagestan urges believers not to visit mosques

Today, the Mufti of Dagestan has announced that believers should stop visiting mosques because of the threat of the spread of the coronavirus infection. Instagram users have supported the initiative.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 27, the first case of the coronavirus infection was confirmed in Dagestan. By March 31, the number of coronavirus-infected people in the republic reached 13. On the same day, Dagestani leader Vladimir Vasiliev signed a decree imposing a ban on movement in connection with the threat of the spread of the coronavirus infection.

Today, the Muftiate of Dagestan has posted on its Instagram page an appeal from republic's Mufti Sheikh Akhmad Afandi. "A new decree has been issued by Dagestani leader Vladimir Vasiliev. And the decree includes the following clause: 'To recommend religious organizations of all faiths to ban holding religious rites and events with the mass participation of citizens until the sanitary-epidemiological situation improves.' Based on the above Dagestani leader's decree and the opinions of all persons competent in this field, I appeal to Muslims of Dagestan and say: there is a need to suspend visits to mosques until the above recommendation is cancelled," the Muftiate of Dagestan states in its appeal to the republic's residents.

By 12:25 p.m. Moscow time, the Dagestani Muftiate's post gained more than 2500 likes, and 116 comments were left under it. Instagram users unanimously supported the Muftiate's initiative.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 1, 2020 at 12:26 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.