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The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC has expressed worry over reopening of mosques in some states despite the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the country.
There were reports some state governments, including Borno, Gombe and Zamfara had granted permission to Islamic leaders to reopen mosques in their state.
Reacting, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the MURIC director, in a statement issued on Monday, said such decision “may not be wise enough” and advised authorities of mosques across the nation to stay on the side of caution.
Akintola suggested that mosques should remain closed until the Federal Government declares the country safe from the pandemic.
He said: “There are reports that some state governments have given the green light for the opening of mosques. This may not be wise enough.
“We must be on the side of caution regarding this dangerous virus whose cure has not been found. Muslims should not rush to their graves.
“We suggest that mosques should remain closed until the Federal Government (FG) declares the country safe from the pandemic.
“Reopening mosques at this time can be interpreted as withdrawing from the battlefield and leaving the rest of the country to face the fight alone. It may also be interpreted as disobedience to FG’s restriction on crowding.”
Akintola further reminded the governments and people of Borno, Gombe and Zamfara states whose population, according to him, is predominantly ‘Muslim of Allah-given fundamental right to life’, saying that the right “should not be violated through any hasty yet wrongful policy decision”.
“It is therefore our considered opinion that the authorities in the three states (Borno, Gombe and Zamfara) should reconsider their decisions particularly before the Id al-fitr festival prayer which is fast approaching,” he added.
“We remind the three states that the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) had advised Muslims against congregations until further notice.
“We therefore suggest that the leadership of the Nigerian Muslim community, namely, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the NSCIA should be consulted before the decision to reopen mosques can be implemented.”
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, a total of 5,959 cases have been confirmed in the country, with 1,594 discharged and 182 fatalities.
