(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The General Directorate of Traffic's crackdown on parking in mosque premises is in full swing with at least a dozen violations registered at single mosque in one day. Motorists are feeling the full force of the government's move to free parking spaces in mosques for worshippers.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, the traffic department recently began slapping a minimum fine of QR300 against those who misuse mosque parking lots. Worshippers have hailed the move which takes stringent action on those who park their vehicles in mosques for long and force worshippers to commit parking violations.
Over a dozen penalty tickets have been issued in at least one mosque in New Salata area, according to sources.
'Recently, we had motorists rushing out from their offices located in neighbouring buildings to remove their cars parked in the mosque premise to avoid the tickets of violation, Imam of a mosque in New Salata told The Peninsula.
For over an year, the government authorities had run campaign to end the parking misdemeanour. Now, with the rule enforced, inconsiderate motorists who park their vehicles in mosque premise are in for a rude awakening.
'The police had come on a tip-off from one of the mosque employees. He called the police on 999 some 30 minutes after Zuhr prayer finished at 1:15pm. The police reached within 20 minutes and a number of cars were issued violation tickets.
'The move came following an instruction issued by the Mosques Management Department of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. We, the mosque employees, received a text message from the ministry to call 999 or use Metrash service to inform about vehicles occupying parking lots at mosques during non-prayer times, the Imam said.
However, even after repeated warnings, many seem to disregard the warnings as bogus.
'We are have been asked to educate the worshipers during daily religious lectures and Friday sermons that the rule has came into force, and those violating will be fined. Motorists are allowed to park their vehicles in the premises of mosques half-an-hour before and after the prayers. Since the prayer times change, parking time also will change accordingly, Imam at another mosque said.
Currently, the Fajr prayer time begins from 5am, most mosques open by 4:30 and closes half-an-hour after sun rise. The motorists can park when the mosque is open from 4:30am to 6:51am.
'The mosque opens once again for Zuhr prayer by 11:15am and closes by 12:45pm. Third time, the mosque opens by 2:15pm and remains open till 7:45pm since the timing of three prayers Asr, Maqrib and Isha are very close with each other. In summer, the times will vary, the Imam said.
Mosques premises had become permanent parking areas for residents and employees of neighbouring buildings, mostly in the densely populated areas. This was making it almost impossible for worshippers answering the calls to prayers to park their cars in the lots. Often, many have to leave their cars on pavements or in no-parking areas expecting no traffic patrol would book them. At times, these indiscriminate parking of vehicles lead to congestion around mosques during prayer times, disrupting traffic.
'When some travel during vacations, they parked their vehicles in mosques premises for months. The issue had reached its zenith at some places that it was inevitable to take such stringent decision, and we really hail the move. Forget the worshipers, at times some Imams whose accommodation in not annexed to the mosques, do not find parking space when they to lead prayers, another Imam at a mosque in Najma said.
The new rule meant to ensure the availability of parking spaces for worshippers.
'I was surprised to see empty parking spaces at the entrance of Bukhari mosque at Al Asmakh Street when i went for prayer recently. Later, I came to know about the remarkable new move, a worshipper said.
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