Coronavirus: closure of holy places in Jerusalem

Text by: Guilhem Delteil Follow

With an increasingly widespread ban on large gatherings, religions must also adapt. In Jerusalem, the holy city for the three great monotheistic cults, the places of prayer are now closed or have limited access.

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With our correspondent in Jerusalem

Before it closed, the Holy Sepulcher already welcomed only a few faithful daily. Usually, this basilica built on the places where the Christian tradition locates the crucifixion and the burial of Jesus is full of pilgrims from all over the world, especially in the approach of Easter. Its attendance had dropped but the Israeli Ministry of Health called for its closure. The Christian authorities complied with it Wednesday evening.

From the esplanade des Mosques comes the song of the muezzins five times a day. But access to this site, from where Muslims believe that Muhammad ascended to heaven, has been closed since the beginning of the week. Fruit of an agreement between Israel and Jordan which manages the site, the faithful can no longer come to pray there. There were tens of thousands every Friday.

The Wailing Wall, a vestige of an ancient temple and the most sacred site in Judaism, is the only holy place that remains accessible. In general, the synagogues have been closed, but the exception of the Wall is due to the fact that the site is open. The number of people praying there is however limited. Travel in Jerusalem is prohibited, only those living nearby can go there.

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• Jerusalem
• Coronavirus
• Religion