HIBAPRESS – A. Mahyaoui
The leakage of rainwater into the Taqwa Mosque in the Ain Boussalef district of Taza has sparked widespread resentment among worshippers and the local public, after mosque-goers were surprised, during the past few days, by water leaking from the roof into the prayer space, coinciding with the performance of rituals, in an incident that many considered unacceptable inside a house of God.
The incident takes on a worrying character given that the mosque is considered one of the prominent religious landmarks in the city, and it underwent repair and renovation work a few years ago, for which significant financial appropriations were allocated, including contributions from a number of benefactors, which were supposed to put a final end to the problems of infrastructure and equipment, and ensure the quality and sustainability of the work. During the recent rainfall, which is still ongoing, worshipers witnessed water leaking from the roof of the mosque and reaching the middle of the prayer space, in a scene that some described as "shocking", because of the disruption it caused to the devotional atmosphere that is supposed to be dominated by reverence and tranquility, and what it carries of infringement on the sanctity of the place. This situation raised questions among mosque-goers and followers of local and religious affairs about the effectiveness of the completed repairs, the technical standards adopted in the implementation of the works, as well as the role of the follow-up and monitoring services, whether at the local or central level, in ensuring respect for the specifications and the quality of the completion. In this context, a number of observers expressed their fear that this incident is an indication of wider imbalances in the management of mosque renovation projects in a number of neighborhoods in the city of Taza, including the Great Mosque and the Al-Masoudiya Mosque, demanding the opening of a serious and responsible investigation to determine the causes of what happened, and to arrange the necessary legal penalties in the event of any shortcomings or tampering. A number of actors confirm that the maintenance of mosques and caring for them is a collective responsibility, which requires ensuring the protection of the sanctity of the houses of God, preserving public money and the money of benefactors, and ensuring the rights of worshipers in safe spaces befitting the status of these religious institutions and their spiritual and social role.
