Cairo’s historical Al Hussein Mosque closed for COVID-19 restriction violations

The Egyptian Ministry of Endowment on Thursday closed the historical and sacred Al Hussein Mosque in the capital, Cairo, days after mosques have been allowed to open amid the coronavirus crisis.

The Egyptian Ministry of Endowment on Thursday closed the historical and sacred Al Hussein Mosque in the capital, Cairo, days after mosques have been allowed to open amid the coronavirus crisis. Some worshippers failed to cling to the preventive measures required, the ministry said.

The mosque has been closed until further notice and all staff and imams (prayer leaders) have been referred to investigation over “failure to fulfill their job duties,” according to the ministry.

Some worshippers did not abide by the measures, including maintaining social distancing and limiting the presence in mosques to performing the prayers, the ministry said, without disclosing further details about the violation.

The ministry, following the incident, has called on all worshippers to stick to precautionary measures, in order not for the ministry to close any other mosques.

The famous mosque was originally constructed in 1154, and was reconstructed in 1874. 

After a three-month closure, Egyptian mosques and Al-Azhar re-opened on Saturday after being sterilized to receive the worshippers every day except for Fridays, in light of the country’s plan of coping with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic.