ANKARA
Turkey's top religious authority has suspended all congregational prayers in mosques, including traditional Friday prayers, to help stem the spread of coronavirus.
Ali Erbas, head of the Religious Affairs Directorate, said on Monday that mosques would remain open for those who want to pray individually.
"In this process, it is sufficient to do the noonday prayer instead of the Friday prayer," he said.
Erbas emphasized that all members of the Turkish public who went on umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia in a government-organized tour have returned to Turkey.
He added that 390 Turkish citizens who travel to Saudi Arabia