• Wednesday, 24 April 2024 / 15 Shawwal 1445
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Six Strand Mosques placed under lockdown after Covid Infecfions and Imam's death
  • Monday, 24 May 2021

1'  6 STRAND MOSQUES PLACED UNDER LOCKDOWN AFTER COVID-19 INFECTIONS, IMAM'S DEATH On Sunday night, the council held an emergency meeting after its senior imam was hospitalised. Moulana Ghosain Rhoda passed away on Monday morning died due to COVID-19-related complications. CORONAVIRUSCOVID-19CORONAVIRUS IN SOUTH AFRICASTRANDSTRAND MOSLEM COUNCILMOULANA GHOSAIN RHODA Shamiela Fisher | 5 hours ago CAPE TOWN - The Strand Moslem Council has decided to place six mosques in the community under lockdown with immediate effect due to COVID-19. On Sunday night, the council held an emergency meeting after its senior imam was hospitalised and later died due to COVID-19-related complications. Moulana Ghosain Rhoda passed away on Monday morning. He was the imam of Strand for 45 years. Of the six mosques that were closed, three were in use daily. Mogamad Nur Badroon is the welfare secretary for the Strand Moslem Council and he said that the mosques had all been sanitised. He said that there are seven known families who had also tested positive for COVID-19. "It's a precautionary measure. Moulana passed away this morning. He was our senior imam. The cause of his death was COVID-related. The decision was taken after debating with the other imams of the council. We came to the conclusion that it will be safer for the community because preservation of life is much more important,” Badroon said. Download the Eyewitness News app to your iOS or Android device. ‌ Related articles Ramaphosa: We need to unpack global lessons of COVID-19 as we plan for future SA remains on level 1, gatherings limit increase but no alcohol sale for off-site FILE: A City of Tshwane Health official takes a nasal swab to test for the COVID-19 coronavirus on a taxi operator at the Bloed Street Mall in Pretoria Central Business District, on 11 June 2020. Picture: AFP. KZN govt authorities call for swift arrest of slain RMB GM Nico Swart's killers People are seen next to burning pyres of victims who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 coronavirus at an open crematorium in Bangalore, India, on 26 April 2021. Picture: Manjunath Kiran/AFP AA forecasts slight drop in petrol prices in June Another blow for murder accused Zane Kilian's bail bid NMB mayor Bhanga to write to Ramaphosa over drought disaster declaration Jessie Duarte's ex-husband's name appears in Gupta contract money flows President Ramaphosa calls for equal access to vaccines at World Health Assembly FS Treasury paid more than R11m to Gupta's TNA, Zondo Inquiry hears Ramaphosa calls for global health council to support response to pandemics Six people arrested following protests in Rietvallei TODAY IN HOME UN urges 'political process' amid Gaza reconstruction Pressure mounts on Belarus over forced landing to arrest dissident13 minutes ago Citing COVID-19 risk, US warns against travel to Olympic host Japan19 minutes ago BBC announces internal probe into Diana interview fiascoone hour ago National Guard exits US Capitol after 6 January attack6 minutes ago Major cruise lines to restart voyages for vaccinated passengers22 minutes ago Researcher reveals state awarded over R49bn in irregular contracts to Guptasone hour ago Two months after Palma raid, Mozambique survivors still on runone hour ago Break it down: B-Boy Meaty wants to inspire CT youth with his movesone hour ago CORONAVIRUS Ramaphosa: We need to unpack global lessons of COVID-19 as we plan for future2 hours ago UN chief: We must apply wartime logic to COVID response inequalities4 hours ago Ramaphosa calls for global health council to support response to pandemics6 hours ago VIDEOS Secret witness to Zondo: Signal jamming at 2015 Sona a unilateral decision IEC appoints Moseneke to assess if COVID will allow for free, fair local elections Matshela Koko to Judge Zondo: Your legal team is coaching witnesses LOCAL FS Treasury paid more than R11m to Gupta's TNA, Zondo Inquiry hears2 hours ago Six people arrested following protests in Rietvallei2 hours ago AA forecasts slight drop in petrol prices in June2 hours ago Jessie Duarte's ex-husband, John, worked with Salim Essa, Zondo Inquiry hears3 hours ago De Lille wants corruption whistleblowers to be rewarded financially3 hours ago Hawks: Corruption-accused CT DA councillor linked to food parcel funds not TERS3 hours ago Gun Owners of South Africa says draft bill on firearm ownership ban 'idiocy'4 hours ago ANC NWC looks set to finalise task team to take over party in FS4 hours ago Mbalula pinpoints leadership instability, cable theft as Prasa's challenges4 hours ago POLITICS Magashule to be on the agenda of ANC NWC's meeting today8 hours ago Premier Winde appoints Daylin Mitchell as WC's new Transport MEC9 hours ago

Mosques to limit external speakers to Adhan and Iqamah
  • Sunday, 23 May 2021

‘Mosques to limit external speakers to Adhan and Iqamah’ Starting from Sunday, only the Adhan and Iqamah will be broadcast through the external speakers of the Mosque while the prayers will only be broadcast inside the Mosques.

Indian mosque bulldozed in defiance of high court order
  • Wednesday, 19 May 2021

Subscribe The Guardian - Back to home News Opinion Sport Culture Lifestyle Images of rubble taken in the aftermath of the destruction of the mosque in Ram Sanehi Ghat, Uttar Pradesh, India Show caption India Indian mosque bulldozed in defiance of high court order Local officials in Uttar Pradesh demolish mosque that had stood since time of British rule Hannah Ellis-Petersen and Mohammad Sartaj Alam Tue 18 May 2021 14.17 EDT Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email A local administration in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has defied a state high court order and bulldozed a mosque, in one of the most inflammatory actions taken against a Muslim place of worship since the demolition of the Babri Mosque by a mob of Hindu nationalist rioters in 1992. The mosque, called Masjid Gareeb Nawaz Al Maroof, in the district of Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh, had stood for at least six decades, since the time of British rule, according to documents held by its committee. On Monday, police and security services moved into the area and cleared it of people, then brought in bulldozers and demolished the mosque buildings. Debris was then thrown into a river, according to images and local accounts. Security services have been deployed to prevent anyone coming within a mile of where the mosque stood. The state government of Uttar Pradesh is controlled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), which also governs at national level. The chief minister is a hardline Hindu nationalist called Yogi Adityanath, who is known for his vitriol against Muslims. He has made speeches laced with Islamophobia, referred to Muslims as terrorists, and passed legislation openly discriminatory to Muslims. A local imam, Maulana Abdul Mustafa, who is on the mosque committee, said the mosque was “hundreds of years old” and that “thousands of people have been coming here five times a day to offer namaz [prayer]”. “All Muslims were scared, so no one went near the mosque or dared to protest when the mosque was being demolished. Even today, several dozen people are leaving their homes and hiding in other areas out of the fear of the police.” Adarsh Singh, Barabanki district magistrate, denied the presence of the mosque. “I do not know any mosque,” he said. “I know there was an illegal structure. The Uttar Pradesh high court declared it illegal. That’s why the regional senior district magistrate took action. I will not say anything else.” The scene after the demolition of the mosque. Photograph: Supplied The demolition was in violation of a high court order issued on 24 April, which stated that buildings in the state should be protected from any eviction or demolition until 31 May “in the wake of the upsurge of the pandemic”. The mosque has been contested by the local administration. On 15 March, a notice was issued to the mosque committee questioning the presence of an “unofficial mosque”, requesting evidence for the permissions they had for the land and citing a court ruling where illegal religious constructions could be demolished if they caused obstructions. The mosque committee say they sent a detailed response, including documents demonstrating the building had an electricity connection from 1959 and showing no mosque structures were obstructing the road, but the local administration did not take the response on to official record. On 18 March, the mosque committee went to the Allahabad high court citing concerns that the mosque faced “imminent demolition”. The high court ruled that the local administration was only seeking documentation, rather threatening to demolish the mosque. In the following days, local Muslims say the administration began building a permanent structure to block access to the mosque. On 19 March, local Muslims were prevented from entering the mosque for Friday prayers, causing tension and protests in the area. Over 35 local Muslims who were protesting were arrested and put in jail, where many are still held, and police reports were filed against the demonstrators. In a ruling on 24 April, taking in the circumstances of the pandemic, Allahabad high court then ordered that “any orders of eviction, dispossession or demolition … shall remain in abeyance until 31.05.21”. In a press statement, the district administration of Barabanki described the demolished structures as a “residential complex” and said a court order from 2 April had proved the “residential construction in question is illegal”. They made no mention of the mosque on the site, even though its presence had previously been officially acknowledged in the notice served to the mosque on 15 March and again in the high court petition on 18 March. Members of the mosque committee said they had also not been made aware of any court ruling regarding the mosque made on 2 April . Despite the court order to delay all demolitions till the end of May, the administration went ahead with the demolition of the mosque structures on Monday afternoon. A statement by Zafur Ahmad Faruqi, chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf board, said: “I strongly condemn the patently illegal and high-handed action … by which they have demolished a 100-year-old mosque.” Faruqi said the demolition was “against the law, a misuse of power and in utter violation of the clear orders dated 24.04.2020 passed by the Hon’ble High Court” and called for a high-level judicial inquiry. The district where the mosque is located is adjacent to Ayodhya, where the Babri mosque stood before its demolition in 1992. In a court ruling in 2019, judges declared that the land legally belonged to Hindus, rather than Muslims, and a new Ram temple is under construction on the site where the Babri Mosque stood

Hyderabad: Mosques use azaan to prod people to follow Covid norms
  • Tuesday, 18 May 2021

HYDERABAD: In their attempts to spread awareness, several mosques in Old City are relaying messages following the prayer call (azaan), urging people to take precautions to stay safe and protected from Covid-19. The precautionary messages are relayed regularly to ensure people remain vigilant and not drop their guard against the virus. While wearing masks and maintaining social distance has been mandatory in mosques, they are also limiting the number of devotees for prayers. “Through its messaging, the mosque in my locality tells devotees not to turn up at the mosque and offer prayers from home. Only few are permitted to offer prayers at the mosque and they have to adhere to Covid protocols,” Mohammed Jameeluddin from Purnipura told TOI. “People are aware of the current scenario...the lockdown has worked effectively as people are staying indoors and safe. Besides this, special prayers are also being offered to get rid of the virus and we have distributed cards with special recitations among people,” said Syed Muneeruddin Muqtar, president of the Take ki Masjid in Nampally. Maulana Hafiz Abdul Razzaq from Moghalpura told TOI that messages are being forwarded on various social media groups asking people to follow the rules enforced by the government. “All efforts are being taken to make people realise the importance of life and its protection from the virus. Right from the beginning, social distance is being maintained and masks are being worn by devotees. Only few are allowed to offer prayers in the mosques and we keep in touch with them through social media,” Maulana Hafiz said. Elsewhere, some in Old City have urged the government to consider a slight relaxation of operation hours as earnings of vegetable, fruit vendors and other small-scale traders have taken a huge hit due to the limited working hours

Condemnation of Indian News Channel's Blatant Stunt involving Masjid Al Nabawi
  • Monday, 17 May 2021

The Editorial Team of Inside the Haramain released a statement condemning the 'stunt played' by an Indian News Channel which shows the destruction of the Green Dome at Masjid Al Nabawi, Madinah