Worker in trouble after wearing shoes in Prophet's Mosque
Worker in trouble after wearing shoes in Prophet's Mosque
July 27, 2015 | 12:46 AM
An expatriate worker wearing shoes fills Zamzam water bottles inside the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, sparking outrage among visitors of the mosque. — Courtesy Makkah
July 27, 2015 | 12:46 AM
Last Updated: July 27, 2015 | 12:46 AM
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Saudi Gazette report
MADINAH — The Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Hoy Mosques is currently investigating the case of an expatriate worker who had his shoes on while filling Zamzam water containers inside the Prophet's Mosque.
Quoting Ahmed Mansouri, official spokesman for the presidency, Makkah daily reported on Sunday that a committee had been formed to investigate the case.
Mansouri described the behavior of the worker as "sacrilegious and unacceptable".
[quote_box_center]"There will be no slackness with any one who dares to desecrate the sanctity of the holy mosques, whether workers or visitors," he said.[/quote_box_center]
Mansouri said in addition to being sacrilegious, the behavior of the worker clearly undermined the efforts the presidency was exerting to ensure a spiritual atmosphere within the mosque for the pilgrims and visitors to perform their worship in calm and peace.
He denied that the worker was ignorant and did not know walking around in the Prophet's Mosques in shoes was sacrilegious.
"We are keen to educate all our workers on religious etiquette. We regularly organize awareness programs for them," he added.
"There is no place in the two holy mosques for anyone who does not respect their sanctity, whether they are employees, visitors or pilgrims," he said.
According to Mansouri, a number of visitors asked the worker to put off his shoes but he would not listen. "The man continued his work without heed. He had the shoes on the entire time he was filling the thermos," he said.
Manouri said the worker, who was not identified, entered the mosque and went out of it with his shoes on.
A number of visitors denounced the worker's behavior. Some of them said they drew his attention to this unacceptable behavior but he would not listen. They called on the authorities to take disciplinary action against him.
