Mosques in Germany that depend on donations from Friday prayers face bankruptcy as the coronavirus lockdown strips them of their only source of income, which peaks during the month of Ramadan that starts this week.
Imam Mohamed Taha Sabri of Dar Assalam Mosque in Neukoelln demonstrates how to perform prayers during an interview with Reuters in the mosque, as the global spread of the coronavirus disease continues, in Berlin, Germany, April 17, 2020. REUTERS/Christian Mang
“Mosques are going through a massive crisis,” he said in the empty mosque, where hand-washing instructions are displayed on placards next to Koranic verses. “I think that some mosques are going to be forced to close, especially those which have to pay rent.” Mosques have to finance themselves as they do not benefit from hundreds of million of euros in state funds given to Christian churches.
Sabri said the response to the online funding drive by his mosque, where 1,500 Muslims pray on a normal Friday, had been “tepid” and even when the lockdown ends it won’t be possible to relaunch charitable activities like free meals.
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