As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Turkey rose to 18 Monday, the country imposed new measures in the fight against the deadly outbreak. Authorities announced that student dormitories in Istanbul were being evacuated to accommodate people returning from coronavirus-hit European countries. Travelers will be quarantined there for 14 days.
The country’s Presidency of Religious Authority (DİB), meanwhile, announced a ban on mass gatherings and prayers in mosques, urging people to pray at home. The head of DİB, Ali Erbaş, announced that the coronavirus outbreak “necessitated suspending prayers with the congregation in mosques.” Giving examples from Prophet Muhammad’s sayings that urge the faithful to end mass prayers in case of a plague or a similar disease, Erbaş said mass prayers had the risk of spreading the virus. “Islam does not allow practices that endanger people’s lives,” Erbaş told reporters in the capital Ankara. He said Friday prayers, which are required by Islam to be performed with a congregation, can be replaced with noon prayers the faithful can individually perform at home for a while. Mosques will remain open for those who wish to perform prayers individually, Erbaş noted.
Turkey has also followed the example of other countries and ordered the closure of crowded entertainment venues. Bars, discotheques and nightclubs across all 81 provinces of Turkey closed Monday as a precaution.
On Monday, Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül announced the suspension of all trials except emergency hearings and judges, prosecutors and other judiciary staff above the age of 60 will be on paid leaves.
