Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments has warned mosque imams and muezzins against assigning expatriate workers to either make the call for prayer (adhan) or lead the prayer. While stressing that such actions are in violation of regulations, the ministry said violators will be penalized with repeat offenders being dismissed, a local newspaper reported Saturday. According to sources, the ministry requires that all prayer leaders and muezzins be Saudi nationals. The sources said a number of measures await violators of these regulations beginning with a warning, salary deductions and finally dismissal from work. The sources cited a recent circular from the ministry's branch in Riyadh to the directors of the Administration for the Affairs of Mosques, imams and muezzins that warned against delegating expatriate workers who do not speak Arabic to call people to prayer and lead prayers on behalf of those responsible for these tasks. The circular, which was signed by the director general of the ministry's branch in Riyadh region, said the religious understanding of expatriate workers are sometimes not known. It added that pertinent authorities have been tasked with monitoring mosques to make sure that imams and muezzins carry out their duties according to set guidelines. Meanwhile, the ministry has awarded contracts to several companies to construct, renovate, maintain and clean a number of mosques at a total cost of SR27.4 million.
