Fistfight erupts at Turkish mosque after imam refuses to perform group prayer due to coronavirus

A heated argument and brief altercation took place at a mosque in Turkey’s northwestern province of Sakarya after an imam declined attendees’ requests to perform a prayer for the entire congregation, citing government measures against the coronavirus outbreak, the T24 news website reported on Wednesday.

Turkey has suspended mass prayers in mosques until the coronavirus no longer poses a danger, the head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate, Ali Erbaş, said on Monday.

The dispute, which led to a brief fistfight between two worshippers, was ultimately calmed down by other people in the mosque, according to the report.

Source: Turkish Minute