In its ongoing efforts to enhance institutional work and ensure the sustainability of mosque services, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance issued an important appeal to all citizens and residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, calling on them to actively participate in protecting mosques and their facilities from any violations or transgressions that may affect them.

Strengthening oversight and protecting public funds

The Ministry's official spokesperson, Abdullah Al-Anzi, affirmed in press statements on the sidelines of the "Islamic Values ​​Forum" that the Ministry places the protection of mosque properties at the forefront of its priorities. He explained that encroachments are not limited to construction, but also include the misuse of electricity and water networks, and any other form of encroachment on mosque property, emphasizing that these facilities are endowments for God Almighty and public property that must be preserved.

These measures come within the framework of a comprehensive vision adopted by the Ministry under the leadership of His Excellency Minister Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, who, since assuming his ministerial post, has established a structured institutional framework. This framework includes the creation of a specialized and independent department dedicated to protecting mosques, located at the Ministry's headquarters and its branches throughout the country. This department aims to intensify monitoring efforts and proactively detect violations.

The importance and status of mosques in the Kingdom

These measures are of particular importance given the esteemed position of mosques in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Qibla of Muslims and the birthplace of revelation. The state places great importance on the construction and maintenance of mosques, allocating substantial budgets to ensure the comfort of worshippers and the performance of religious rites in an atmosphere of tranquility and reverence. Therefore, any encroachment upon the sanctity of these mosques constitutes a waste of public funds and a distortion of the Kingdom's civilized and Islamic image, necessitating concerted official and societal efforts to address it.

Tangible results and community partnership

The Ministry revealed the results of its field efforts during the current year, having identified and addressed more than 700 various cases of encroachment. These violations were resolved according to established procedures and in direct coordination with relevant government agencies, reflecting the Ministry's firm commitment to enforcing regulations and its zero-tolerance policy towards any illegal practices affecting mosques.

In closing its statement, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs stressed that the citizen is the first line of defense and the strategic partner in this system, calling on everyone to immediately report any observations or violations through the unified call center (1933) or by visiting the ministry’s branches, stressing that all reports are dealt with in complete confidentiality and seriousness to ensure that mosques continue to perform their noble mission.

In a positive climate indicator reflecting stable weather conditions, the Regional Center for Dust and Sandstorms revealed today (Thursday) that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia did not record any dust storms yesterday (Wednesday), in a remarkable climate contrast compared to neighboring countries that witnessed significant wind and dust activity.

The report issued by the center explained that the surrounding region recorded a total of 78 hours of dust activity of varying intensity, with Jordan topping the list with 23 hours of dust, followed by Turkmenistan with 18 hours, and then Cyprus, which witnessed 12 hours of dust activity.

In addition to the accurate monitoring carried out by the center of the regional weather situation, the data included recording 11 hours of dust activity in Iraq, 8 hours in the Arab Republic of Egypt, in addition to 4 hours in Uzbekistan, and one hour in Syria, while the atmosphere of the Kingdom was characterized by complete clarity and its freedom from any influential dust particles during the monitoring period.

The role of the regional center and the importance of climate monitoring

This announcement underscores the vital role played by the Regional Center for Dust and Sandstorms, based in the Kingdom, in accurately monitoring weather phenomena. The center is a testament to the Kingdom's efforts in environmental conservation and combating climate change, operating according to the latest international standards for monitoring sandstorms, which are among the most significant environmental challenges in the Middle East and North Africa region.

This data is particularly important given the Kingdom's vast geographical diversity, which typically leads to variations in climate and weather across its different regions. However, the complete absence of dust in the Kingdom on a day of intense activity in neighboring countries demonstrates the variability of pressure systems and their varying impact on the region.

Environmental and health impacts

It is worth noting that monitoring and tracking dust storms is not limited to statistical aspects alone; its impact extends to health and economic aspects. The absence of dust means an improvement in air quality, which has a positive effect on public health, especially for those with respiratory conditions, and also facilitates air and land navigation.

Through its various environmental initiatives, such as the Saudi Green Initiative, the Kingdom seeks to reduce the causes of dust storms in the future by increasing vegetation cover and combating desertification, making the Regional Center’s reports an important indicator for measuring progress in stabilizing the regional and local climate.