عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Egypt Sets New COVID-19 Restrictions to Curb Virus Spread During Ramadan

Muslim worshippers observe social distancing, as they offer the evening prayer Taraweeh at al-Azhar Mosque in the Egyptian capital Cairo, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on May 17, 2020. (Source/AFP)
Muslim worshippers observe social distancing, as they offer the evening prayer Taraweeh at al-Azhar Mosque in the Egyptian capital Cairo, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on May 17, 2020. (Source/AFP)
TT
20
TT

Egypt Sets New COVID-19 Restrictions to Curb Virus Spread During Ramadan

Muslim worshippers observe social distancing, as they offer the evening prayer Taraweeh at al-Azhar Mosque in the Egyptian capital Cairo, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on May 17, 2020. (Source/AFP)
Muslim worshippers observe social distancing, as they offer the evening prayer Taraweeh at al-Azhar Mosque in the Egyptian capital Cairo, during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on May 17, 2020. (Source/AFP)

The Egyptian government decided to impose a number of restrictions during the holy month of Ramadan, as it expects to witness an increase in its daily number of coronavirus infections.

The was announced during the meeting of the higher committee for managing the coronavirus crisis on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli, who chaired the meeting, said worshipers will be allowed to perform prayers and Tarawih at mosques during Ramadan while adhering to all precautionary measures.

“The government will firmly apply all precautions during the fasting month to preserve citizens' safety and health,” the PM said.

The committee also decided to ban public charity iftar tables, Tahajjud (also known as night prayer), and Eatiikaf (staying for days in mosques for worshiping), as well as large gatherings inside closed areas.

Also, Tarawih prayers should be reduced to no more than half an hour in length. large gatherings inside mosques, including celebrations and funerals, are also banned.

For her part, Health Minister Hala Zayed briefed the premier on reports over the first and second wave of the coronavirus pandemic concerning the rate of infections and deaths.

She called for abiding by social distancing rules and wearing facemasks, as well as avoiding gatherings in closed spaces.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Yemen Busts Attempt to Smuggle over 1.5 Million Narcotic Pills into Saudi Arabia

Officials oversee the destruction of narcotics seized during drug busts on the Yemeni-Saudi border. (Saba)
Officials oversee the destruction of narcotics seized during drug busts on the Yemeni-Saudi border. (Saba)
TT
20
TT

Yemen Busts Attempt to Smuggle over 1.5 Million Narcotic Pills into Saudi Arabia

Officials oversee the destruction of narcotics seized during drug busts on the Yemeni-Saudi border. (Saba)
Officials oversee the destruction of narcotics seized during drug busts on the Yemeni-Saudi border. (Saba)

Yemen’s border authorities announced on Thursday that they busted an attempt to smuggle over 1.5 million narcotic pills from the Houthi-held capital Sanaa to Saudi Arabia.

Officials suspect that such large amounts of narcotics is an indication that the Captagon industry and the manufacturing of other drugs could have moved from Syria to Yemeni regions held by the Iran-backed Houthi militias.

The Captagon industry had thrived for years under the now ousted regime of President Bashar al-Assad. He was overthrown by opposition factions in December. Iranian militias had used the Captagon trade to finance their operations in Syria.

Head of security at the Wadiah border crossing Omair al-Azab said the drugs were concealed inside a cooling truck.

Security forces at the crossing were suspicious of the truck and they searched it thoroughly, leading to the bust, he added.

During preliminary investigations, the truck driver confessed that the pills belonged to a smuggler in Sanaa, continued Azab.

He was tasked with delivering the illicit cargo to a person, whose identity he did not know, in the Saudi city of Sharurah.

He revealed that authorities have foiled several drug smuggling attempts in recent months. They seized a ton of cannabis, 15,000 Captagon pills, four kilograms of methamphetamine, and 27,300 other pills.

In February, over three tons of different drugs, seized during various busts, were destroyed in the presence of representatives of concerned Yemeni and Saudi authorities, he added.

Drugs smuggling gangs resort to innovative ways to conceal their illicit cargo, such as hiding them in watermelons, spare tires and the front seats of vehicles, Azab said.

Security forces at the border will remain on alert for any suspicious activity and to defend the nation, he vowed.

Attache at the Yemen Embassy in Riyadh Saleh al-Baidhani warned that such smuggling attempts may be a sign that Captagon was now being manufactured by the Houthis in Yemen.

This demands intensified border security and greater security cooperation between the legitimate Yemeni government and Saudi authorities, he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He confirmed that trucks smuggling drugs were coming from areas held by the Houthis.

Baidhani slammed the drug trade that is “destroying Arab youth”.