Mosque

A group of friends who live in Turkey's different cities and are unable to get together due to the novel coronavirus outbreak have met during an online iftar dinner, breaking their fasts together.

From canceled iftar feasts to suspended mosque prayers, Muslims across the world are weathering a solitary month of Ramadan, fasting as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic lingers.

The traditional lighting that hangs between the minarets of Turkish mosques, usually packed for evening prayers in the holy month of Ramadan, is urging Turks to stay at home this year as the country battles the coronavirus pandemic.

Greek Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias on Friday called on Muslim citizens celebrating Ramadan to pray at home, as part of the efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Speaking at the daily press briefing, he reiterated that mosques will hold prayer services during the religious month without public attendance.

Today is the first day of the Holy month - Ramadan. The Muslim abstinence period preceding Ramadan Bayram's big religious holiday will be marked by a state of emergency this year.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.

From canceled iftar feasts to suspended mosque prayers, Muslims across the Middle East are bracing for a bleak month of Ramadan fasting as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic lingers.

An imam at a mosque in Istanbul opened the facility's doors to those in need of food and basic cleaning products amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The move was done in collaboration with Vefa Social Support Groups, which have been working in Turkey to deliver aid to those in need.

The town centre in Tuzi. Photo: BIRN/Samir Kajosevic

Since Montenegro banned public gatherings on March 18, only priests and clerics can enter and pray in churches and mosques until the epidemic is over.

The acoustics of Istanbul's iconic Hagia Sofia was recorded for the first time simultaneously with eight cameras and voice recorders. 

Turkish musician and singer Emre Yücelen and a volunteer team are behind the recording.

Turkey has closed nationwide mosques for the upcoming Friday prayers and the holy night of Lailat al Miraj ("Miraç Kandili" in Turkish) as part of precautions taken against the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Tracing the history of the Greek capital Athens, we can see not only the sacred rock of the classical Acropolis but a mixture of the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman eras.

Even though Greece was under Ottoman rule for almost four centuries, few remains of that period are visible now.