InfoAnda - Saudi Clerics Told to Keep Sermons Short

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Home U.S. World Entertainment Sports Business Health Science Technology Politics Offbeat Environment Travel News Articles Saudi Clerics Told to Keep Sermons Short November 19, 2009 3:34 p.m. EST The Media Line Staff Saudi authorities have told the kingdom's imams to shorten their Friday mosque-sermons to prevent unnecessary congestion in places of worship. The instructions are the latest in a series of measures taken by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Islamic Affairs to safeguard the health of worshippers against the H1N1 virus ahead of the Hajj. The Hajj, which begins next week, is an annual Muslim pilgrimage which attracts around two million pilgrims to Saudi Arabia every year. The festival plays a major role in consolidating the kingdom as a regional religious center. The new guidelines address "the urgent need for imams in mosques to raise awareness among worshipers in ways to protect themselves against diseases and encourage them to follow directives issued by the Ministry of Health in such matters." Saudis are taking extra precautions to minimize the risk of swine flu infection following fears that the epidemic may severely damage the country's image and tourism revenues. Shariff, a tour operator with the UK-based Shariff Enterprises Ltd, is departing for Saudi Arabia on Friday with a group of pilgrims. "All of them have taken the ordinary flu jab and meningitis as well," he said, describing an ordinary precaution taken every year. "During the month of Ramadan there were a lot of people [in Saudi Arabia], around a million people, and only about 20 were affected," Shariff said, referring to swine flu. "So I think the Saudi authorities thought that a flu jab is the only one to take." Shariff said that other members of the group had consulted their doctors and contacted the Saudi Ministry of Hajj ahead of time. "They just want to perform the Hajj, which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience." Muslims have been flocking to Saudi Arabia in the thousands since the beginning of the week in preparation for the Hajj. Visitors to Mecca are being greeted by billboards and public notices in the entrances to hotels with instructions on swine flu prevention. Saudi Arabia has also launched anti-swine flu campaigns on local radio and television stations. The Saudi Health Ministry is recommending several precautions to be taken to prevent the spread of swine flu: the age of the pilgrim should be no younger than 12 and no older than 65; that pilgrims suffering from chronic diseases such as heart disease, liver, kidney and complications of diabetes, obesity or other diseases affecting health or immunity should refrain from performing the Hajj; and that people heading towards Mecca and Medina should take a seasonal flu vaccine two weeks before arrival. Saudi Arabia is requiring nationals that intend to perform the Hajj to be vaccinated for swine flu by November 22. The Saudi Health Ministry insists that no swine flu deaths have been documented among pilgrims and visitors to Mecca and claims that the authorities are taking all possible precautions against the disease. Around 70 people have died of swine flu in Saudi Arabia but none of them were pilgrims. "The accumulated experience that the kingdom has confirms that we have the full capability of monitoring and confronting the illness," said Khalid Al-Marghalani, a spokesman for the ministry told the official Kuwaiti news agency. Saudi authorities say that despite the preventative measures being taken, the number of Muslims who have applied for permission to carry out the pilgrimage has dropped considerably compared with last year. Copyright © 2003 - 2009 AHN - All rights reserved.Redistribution, republication. syndication, rewriting or broadcast is prohibited without the prior written consent of AHN.License AHN news for your website, business, digital signage network or publication. Recent Posts Most Popular Comments Recent Comments Popular Threads Home | U.S. | World | Entertainment | Sports | Business | Health | Sci / Tech | Politics | Weird / Offbeat Follow AHN on Twitter AHN Social News connects you with friends and the news Client Login | Submit News | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact | Content Services © 2009 AHN All Rights Reserved

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