HRH Premier highlights government's interest in houses of worship

Manama, Mar. 3 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has issued an order to determine the number of mosques constructed with wood in order to include them in the government’s programme to revamp houses of worship and reconstruct them. HRH Premier also gave directives to reduce procedures related to the issuance of permits for building mosques, affirming the government’s interest in houses of worship and keenness to make sure that they are in a good condition, commensurate with their religious status and role. In this regard, HRH Premier revealed that the government has, over the past eight years, spent about BD 30 million to build mosques that are overseen by the Sunni and Jaffari endowments. HRH Premier was speaking as he received here today, in the presence of MP Bassim Al-Maliki, the Chairman of the Sunni Endowments Council, Dr. Shaikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al-Hajiri, and the Islamic Affairs Undersecretary at the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Dr. Shaikh Fareed bin Yaqoob Al-Meftah. HRH the Prime Minister asserted that taking care of the houses of worship tops the interests of the government which, he said, is keen to build new ones and maintain others, so as to enable worshippers to perform the rituals comfortably, lauding the role played by mosques’ imams in highlighting the precepts of the Islamic Sharia, and strengthening social cohesion. Bahrain has, throughout its long history, been proud of being a leader in taking care of mosques and houses of worship, and keenness to create good conditions for them to play their religious and social role, he said. Sunni Endowments Council chairman and the Justice Ministry’s undersecretary extended sincere thanks and appreciation to HRH the Prime Minister for his interest in mosques and houses of worship, as well as his appreciation of imams, and keenness to meet them, noting that HRH Premier’s support will motivate them to exert more efforts to enhance the noble mission of religious platforms and mosques, and enable them to promote social values. MP Al-Maliki lauded HRH Premier’s quick response to the issue of makeshift mosques, asserting that the Prime Minister always interacts positively with all citizen-oriented issues. The citizens top HRH Premier’s interests, Al-Maliki said.