HIBAPRESS – A. Mahyawi
"HIBAPRESS" learned from local sources that the Ait Bertat mosque witnessed an unusual incident on the morning of Eid al-Fitr, after a person suffering from mental disorders stormed the mosque while worshipers were performing prayer rituals, which caused a state of confusion and panic among those present.
According to the available data, the person in question entered the mosque at a moment when the Imam was leading the worshipers, before heading towards the pulpit, in a surprising act that disrupted the atmosphere of reverence that prevailed, and prompted a number of worshipers to intervene quickly to contain the situation. The same sources added that the person in question had previously undergone follow-up at a specialized hospital institution for mental illnesses in the city of Rachidia, but his condition, according to consistent statements, did not improve significantly, which brings back to the forefront the discussion about the mechanisms of caring for this group and the effectiveness of health and social interventions directed at them. The incident also raised questions among the residents regarding the procedures for securing mosques, especially during religious occasions that witness heavy turnout, as a number of worshipers considered that the absence of any form of monitoring could multiply the risks of similar incidents occurring. Fortunately, this incident did not result in any injuries, after the worshipers were able to gently remove the person in question, pending the measures that the competent authorities may take to avoid the recurrence of such incidents, by strengthening coordination between health, security and social services, and ensuring safety conditions inside places of worship.
