The number of parishioners in Moscow mosques has decreased several times, Deputy Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation and Moscow Mufti Ildar Alyautdinov told RIA Novosti on Friday.
"Visually, the number of people coming to mosques has decreased at least two or three times. I don't know whether it's connected with vacations, fear of contagion or something else, but the number of parishioners has decreased manifold," the Mufti said, answering the agency's question about Friday prayers in conditions of non-working days introduced in Moscow due to the coronavirus pandemic and compulsory vaccination of some categories of employees.
He noted that in this regard, there are no cases where believers have to be kept out of the mosque to maintain social distance. "There is no such thing that we don't let anyone in," Alyautdinov added.
However, Friday prayers in the Moscow Cathedral Mosque are planned to be held in a normal mode with observance of precautionary measures. "Of course, we give out masks and keep a distance. And the number of parishioners has decreased significantly - we can feel it," concluded the Mufti.
Alyautdinov earlier told RIA Novosti that Friday prayers in Moscow mosques have not been canceled, and the daily five-time prayers in the Moscow Cathedral Mosque are held with the observance of anti-pandemic measures.
Earlier, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin signed a decree stipulating days off from June 15 to 19 with pay to halt the growth of the coronavirus disease. Subsequently, on June 16, the Rospotrebnadzor head for Moscow Elena Andreeva decreed that workers in trade, services, catering, transport, healthcare, housing and utilities, MFCs, education, culture and organizations working with children be vaccinated against coronavirus. According to the decree, at least 60% of employees in such organizations must be vaccinated with two components of the vaccine by mid-August. The Moscow Region made a similar decision.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Mikhail Tereshchenko / TASS
Based on materials from RIA Novosti