Controversy Erupts as Hassan II Mosque Restricts Public Access in Casablanca

A strange decision. On Sunday, Moroccan citizens and foreign tourists were denied access to the esplanade of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, reports Rue20. The reason for this refusal is a decision prohibiting entry "outside of prayer times". The site claims, however, to have noticed that at the same time as citizens were being denied entry (after the al Asr prayer), other visitors were freely walking around the mosque grounds. The reason given: they had entered the place of worship at the time of prayer and that if they left the metal barriers set up by a private security company, they would not be allowed to enter again until the time of the next prayer, that is, the Maghrib prayer.

The decision regarding the closure of the Hassan II Mosque is causing incomprehension among visitors from different cities and foreign tourists. They deplore the lack of a responsible organization that can explain the decision and its motivations.