Saudi Gazette Report

RIYADH — There are a total of 98,356 mosques all over Saudi Arabia but only 196 of them (about 0.02 percent) are prepared to receive people of special needs, local Arabic daily Al-Watan said on Monday quoting a report by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance.

Nasser Al-Moussa, a Shoura (Consultative) Council member, was surprised to find out the meager percentage when he approached the ministry to prepare mosques for people of special needs. Moreover, about 81 percent of the mosques do not have allocations for maintenance and cleanliness.

He said all the government departments, public utilities and the mosques should have easy access to the people of special needs and called for making special praying rugs particularly for the blind people to know where to stand to pray.

Moussa said copies of the Qur'an in Braille language should be provided at the mosques for the blind people.