Mauritania reinstates mosque prayer restrictions as coronavirus cases spike

After a rise in coronavirus cases, Mauritania is reinstating mosque prayer restrictions

1 min read

15 May, 2020

Mosque restrictions are returning in Mauritania [Getty]

Mauritania has said that it will reinstate restrictions on mosque prayers, after a recent of spike of coronavirus cases in the Arabic-speaking west African country.

The government had eased restrictions on prayers only last week, prompting the faithful to flock back to mosques, after appearing to have the number of infections under control.

But authorities in the Muslim nation of some four million people recorded a jump in infections this week, bringing the country's total number of coronavirus cases to 26.

Late on Thursday night, Mauritania's Islamic Affairs Minister Dah Ould Amar Taleb said on national television that the government was reimposing restrictions.

"We have consulted the ulemas and health specialists, we are obliged to suspend the Friday prayer until further notice," he said.

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