The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has banned iftar dinners within mosque premises ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, citing health concerns.
According to The New Arab, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs published a notification last week that included strict instructions for observing iftar, the meal that breaks the fast during Ramadan.
Making temporary tents or rooms for iftar is expressly forbidden by the regulation.
The notice states that to maintain cleanliness, iftar initiatives are not allowed to be conducted within mosques. Rather, the authorities at the mosques have been told to set up suitable spots for iftar dinners in the mosque courtyards.
The authorities also said that imams and muezzins of mosques are not permitted to ask for money to fund iftar initiatives that cater to people who are fasting.
In a further attempt to control activities on mosque property, it is forbidden to broadcast prayers on any medium, including internet platforms, and cameras and photography are discouraged.
In Saudi Arabia, the holy month of Ramadan is expected to start on March 10–11 and end on April 9–10.
