Saudi- Firms not helping with Jubail mosques' upkeep: Residents

(MENAFN- Arab News) JUBAIL: Several residents and visitors to Jubail have urged the authorities and companies to help maintain and clean certain mosques in the city which they say are unsuitable for prayers.
Ahmed Al-Qahtani a citizen living in Jubail said there should be some way for worshipers to express their concern about the state of mosques.
Another citizen Abdulrahman Al-Shahrani said that Omar bin Abdul Aziz Mosque needs to be expanded to accommodate the growing number of worshipers. He said most mosques in Jubail are not equipped for people with special needs.
On women's mosques one citizen said that small women's mosques on the Jubail-Dammam Highway require more care and attention through regular maintenance.
Ahmed Marzouk said that some worshipers do not care about the state of mosques and leave their waste behind. There should be more awareness campaigns held to educate people he said.
Sheikh Ahmed Al-Jarah director general of the Islamic Affairs Ministry in Jubail said there are 89 large mosques and 51 small ones in Jubail. He said small mosques at petrol stations are not affiliated to the ministry. In addition 11 others are built on land not allocated for mosques. He also urged firms to help with the upkeep of mosques.
Regarding Omar bin Abdul Aziz Mosque one of the important mosques in Jubail Al-Jarah said there are plans to develop the building and grounds further and ensure funeral services are transferred to other mosques to avoid congestion.
Muhammad Al-Suffaian Eastern Province general manager of public relations said that small mosques located at petrol stations and on the Jubail-Dammam Highway are the responsibility of the Ministry of the Islamic Affairs which has recently set up a phone line for reporting any negligence.