Mosques Closure ‘Was Best Option’, Says Barbados Muslim Cleric

TEHRAN (IQNA) – Although mosques in Barbados were ordered to close two weeks ago, the Muslim community was not “targeted”.

That is the view of president of Jama mosque, Abdul Kothdiwala, who said the closures of all mosques in the country was just a precaution to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“We never thought that they were targeting us. It was just for precautionary reasons and the health authorities really thought it was best that we shut down. In our religion, we can pray at any mosque. If I’m a member at Jama mosque and it’s time to pray I can go to Belleville or Sobers Lane.

“So to stop that mingling, they realized it was best to shut all the mosques down for a little while and let us get some tracing done to see where this thing started from. But the authorities came back and said we could open again,” Kothdiwala said, Barbados Nation News reported.

Barbados is an eastern Caribbean island and an independent British Commonwealth nation.

Statistics for Islam in Barbados estimate a Muslim population of around 5,000, most of whom are immigrants or descendants of immigrants from India.