Egypt partially reopens Al-Hussein Mosque

Egypt has partially reopened Cairo’s iconic Al-Hussein Mosque as of 7 July following a few days of closure over worshippers’ non-compliance with the new coronavirus precautions.

Egypt has partially reopened Cairo’s iconic Al-Hussein Mosque as of 7 July following a few days of closure over worshippers’ non-compliance with the new coronavirus precautions.

Egypt allowed places of worship, which were closed for a few months due to the pandemic, to reopen starting from 27 June with mandatory regulations in a bid to reduce the risk of infection.

Some worshippers at Al-Hussein Mosque, however, had violated the rules last week and stood around the outside walls of the shrine located inside the well-known mosque, according to a statement by the religious endowments ministry on Monday.

The ministry, which runs Islamic places of worship nationwide, has decided to close the mosque, sack its administrative director, and fine two imams and other staffers.

On Monday, however, the ministry announced the partial reopening of the mosque, completely isolating the place of prayer from the shrine in order to prevent possible crowding.