Hawzah News Agency - (Leicester - UK) - Mosques in Leicester will not be reopening with other places of worship on the June 15 even though latest government updates have permitted so.

The Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick announced on June 7, that places of worship will be permitted to open on June 15 for individual prayer only and with social distancing measures in place.

In response, the Federation of Muslim Organisations based in Leicester, has announced that although they welcome the "positive step towards supporting faith communities", mosques affiliated with the FMO will stay closed.

Suleman Nagdi, the spokesman for the Federation of Muslim Organisations said: "We are of the view that the decision does not go far enough in accommodating the religious requirements of the Muslim community and other faith groups for whom a Mosque or a public place of worship’s primary purpose is to facilitate led congregational or communal prayers."

The updated guidance for places of worship still restrict congregational prayer which is held predominantly in mosques.

This means daily prayers in the mosque would still be restricted and Jummah (Friday prayers) would not be able to go ahead.

Nagdi said: "We believe the decision as it currently stands is impractical to manage for mosque committees that are largely made up of dedicated volunteers and will cause confusion and further dismay to worshippers who may misinterpret the guidance as the resumption of congregational prayers."

All religious communities have been affected by the closures which have changed personal and traditional rituals, the way people worship and even the way people mourn.