Congregational prayers in mosques permitted from July 1

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has announced mosques in the Greater Male' Region will be permitted to conduct congregational prayers from July 1 onwards.

Congregational prayers were banned in the Greater Male' Region on March 18 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The mosques were closed altogether by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs after a lockdown was imposed in the Greater Male' Region on April 15.

The Islamic ministry permitted mosques in the Greater Male' Region to reopen on June 15 with strict precautionary measures. The ministry also permitted individuals to perform prayers individually inside the mosques although prayers in congregation were not allowed.