Peterborough mosque chairman calls for religious buildings to stay open during second COVID lockdown

The chairman of the Peterborough Joint Mosques Council has called for the Government to allow places of worship to remain open during the second lockdown.
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When the second English lockdown is introduced on Thursday, places of worship will be forced to close unless they are being used for funerals, to broadcast acts of worship, individual prayer, formal childcare or where part of a school, essential voluntary and public services, such as blood donation or food banks or some other exempted activities such as some support groups.

Today Abdul Choudhuri, chairman of the Joint Mosques Council in Peterborough said the move would be devastating for worshipers of all faiths.

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He said: "For many worshipers, places of worship like churches and mosques are the only place they can get peace. It is a spiritual place, and it will be very harmful for many people during this difficult time.

Abdul Choudhuri,Abdul Choudhuri,
Abdul Choudhuri,

"At the mosques in Peterborough we have all the COVID safe measures in place - the sanitizers, the marked out space, everyone wears a face covering. We have done everything we can to stop this virus.

"We would urge the Government to allow places of worship to remain open during the second lockdown.

Religious buildings were closed during the first lockdown, with mosques re-opening in July. Mr Choudhuri said: "This will be extremely difficult for all Muslims.

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"We didn't have a penny coming in during the first lockdown and it will be the same thing again this time. There is no guarantee this lockdown will only last for four weeks. We don't know how long it will go on for.

"We can offer support to the congregation online or on the radio, but it is not the same as doing it face to face.

"There is also no such thing as individual prayer at a mosque - people come for the congregation prayer.

"We have hundreds of people coming at the really busy services on Fridays, and we have been talking about coronavirus - what people should be doing and what they should not be doing - every week. We won't be able to re-enforce that message now.

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"Muslims have been helping thousands of people in Peterborough throughout this year, cooking meals for needy people amongst other things.

"We are still waiting to hear how the religious education we offer to children after school will be affected, but we had just started again after the first lockdown.

"We really hope the Government changes its mind on this."