Peterborough mosque’s COVID safety measures praised

Prayers at Faizan-e-Madinah mosque at Gladstone Street showing social distancing EMN-200723-171351009

A raft of COVID safety measures have been put in place at mosques across the city to allow worship to resume.

Four of the five mosques in the city have now re-opened, and yesterday Peterborough MP Paul Bristow visited the Faizen e Madina Mosque to see the changes that had been made.

Mr Bristow said: “What a super effort from all mosques in Peterborough.

Faizan-e-Madinah mosque at Gladstone Street visit by Paul Bristow MP for Peterborough with mosque chairman Abdul Choudhuri EMN-200723-171431009

“They have risen to the challenge that is typically Peterborough, and it was genuinely impressive to see how much effort and thought has been put into preparations. I understand how important congregational prayer is to Muslims, Christians other faiths. It’s so reassuring to see that this can be done safely.

“Everyone at the and the Joint Mosques Council Peterborough and the Faizan E Madina make me proud of Peterborough to see their COVID-19 control measures.”

The safety measures, which were implemented when mosques opened in the city on July 6 have included requiring everyone who attends the mosques to wear a face mask, requiring everyone to bring their own prayer mat, and implementing one meter social distancing measures - which has seen some prayer spots taken out of action.

Part of the car park is out of action to ensure social distancing is in place, the shoe racks normally in place at the entrance have been removed, with the congregation encouraged to place shoes in a plastic bag and take them with them in the mosque.

No-one with underlying health conditions, and no children aged under 13, are allowed to enter the mosque.

Abdul Choudhuri, chairman of the Joint Mosques Council of Peterborough, said:” It was very important to be able to re-open the mosques. Mosques offer spiritual guidance, and Muslims come five times a day.

“When we had four months of lockdown, it was a very painful experience. That four months included the month of Ramadan, so everyone was very pleased to re-open.

“But we don’t want to end up in another lockdown, like Leicester, so we have implemented these measures to keep everyone safe.

“We thought there might be some reaction against what we have done, but no-one has objected to any of them.”