All mosques may be closed in Dushanbe as a protective measure against coronavirus.  An official decision on this subject has not yet been adopted but imam-khatibs have already called on parishioners to refrain from visiting mosques. 

On March 3, imam-khatibs of some mosques in Dushanbe asked parishioners to temporarily refrain from visiting mosques.  

One of parishioners of the Mir Said Ali Hamadoni mosque, Sherali Davlatov, says, “The mosque imam-khatib Hikmatullo Rizoyev told parishioners on March 3 that the mosque will be temporarily closed from March 4 as a protective measure against coronavirus.”    

Imam-khatibs of two other Dushanbe-based mosques have also confirmed the information about the possibility of temporary closure of mosques.  

Meanwhile, the Committee on Religion Affairs (CRA) under the Government of Tajikistan has not yet officially announced quarantine in the country’s mosques.  

However, CRA spokesman Afshin Muqim told Asia-Plus today that “a temporary quarantine situation will probably be announced in the mosques within the next few days.”  

He further added that similar decision had been adopted by other Muslim countries as well. 

Recall, Saudi Arabia has temporarily closed the two holiest shrines of Islam to foreign travelers and banned pilgrims from entering the country as fears surrounding the coronavirus outbreak continue to grow in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, according to data for March 3, the novel coronavirus has killed more than 3,100 people, the vast majority in mainland China. There are now over 90,000 global cases, with infections in more than 70 countries and territories, according to CNN.