Hawzah News Agency - Mosques across Peterborough have suspended public worship amid concerns at the rate of Covid-19 transmission in the city.

On Friday (January 15) the Faizan-e-Madina, Masjid Ghousia and Masjid Khadijah mosques, on Gladstone Street and Cromwell Road respectively, all released statements saying that they would be closed until further notice and that the decision was made in conjunction with all the major mosques in the city.

Under the rules of the national lockdown, places of worship are allowed to remain open for communal worship. This is one of the very few legal exemptions granted to allow gatherings.

On Wednesday (January 13) Abdul Choudhuri, Chairman of the Peterborough Joint Mosques Council said that the mosques were monitoring the situation on a daily basis and actively trying to improve facilities to better enable social distancing.

The comments came after Peterborough Cathedral confirmed on Tuesday (January 12) that all public services would be suspended until at least February.

Now though, the city’s mosques have taken the same decision to close their doors after receiving a letter of recommendation from Liz Robin, Peterborough’s Director of Public Health.

In the letter, addressed to all faith leaders in Peterborough, Dr Robin said that she ‘strongly recommended’ that all services should be suspended in all places of worship. The only exception to this would be funerals and weddings in exceptional circumstances.

A statement on the same page said: “As you may be aware of the current COVID situation in Peterborough, with the rising number of infections and deaths on a weekly basis, it is with a heavy heart that Faizan-e-Madina, along with all major mosques in the city, have decided that as of Isha prayers (after completing isha prayers) tonight (Friday 15th of January 2021) to temporarily close to the public.  

“We urge all of the attendees of the mosque to please comply with government guidelines through these very difficult and testing times.”