Calls to suspend Friday, group prayers rejected

Manama : The Jaafari Endowments Department yesterday called on Bahrainis to exercise high levels of caution and be fully aware of the true nature of the suspicious calls being made to disturb the spirituality and piety of Ramadan. “Under such a spirit, they should not pay heed to the tendentious and offensive calls made on the social media, which urge not to perform congregational and Friday prayers in mosques,” the Department said in a statement.

“The main reason cited in the suspicious calls for the boycott of group prayers is the absence of security. This is a sheer lie and utter nonsense that is easily belied by the facts on the ground and genuine consciousness,” it said. “The security men at the Interior Ministry have proven their merit and competence in providing full security and mental comfort in all places of worship.” 

The Jaafari Endowments Department also stressed the necessity to distance places of worship, such as mosques and community centres, from political bickering and politicised partisanship in all their forms. Calling for maintaining the religious rituals, the Department stressed that all Friday and congregation prayers in all mosques as well as all religious rites are going on. 

The Department praised the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa; Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa; and Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and lauded their assertions on the need to preserve all aspects of national unity. 

“The imams and preachers should maintain the sanctity of religious sermons and speeches to reinforce their leading role in promoting national cohesion. They have to distance themselves from anything that may drive a wedge into the Bahraini national front and to preserve our national unity,” it added.