Ibrahim Khazen and Laith Al-jnaidi
10 February 2023•Update: 10 February 2023
ISTANBUL
Thousands of citizens performed absentee prayers in mosques in Arab countries on Friday for the souls of earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria.
In Palestine, thousands performed absentee prayers in West Bank mosques for the earthquake victims, followed by a collection of donations organized by the Ministry of Religious Endowments.
Tens of thousands of Palestinian worshipers also performed absentee prayers in both Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and the mosques of the Gaza Strip.
In the Emirates, worshipers performed, after Friday prayers in all mosques in the country, the absentee prayer for the souls of the earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria, in response to the invitation of the UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to Emirati newspapers.
Bahrain's capital Manama also witnessed absentee prayers for the earthquake victims in Syria and Türkiye, the daily Bahraini Al Ayam reported.
In Jordan, after Friday prayers, all mosques witnessed absentee prayers for the souls of the earthquake victims, according to a directive by the country’s Religious Endowments Ministry on Thursday.
In Lebanon, hundreds participated in absentee prayers in mosques in various regions, including the capital Beirut, Tripoli and Sidon, according to the Anadolu Agency correspondent.
In Yemen, hundreds of Yemenis performed absentee prayers in the southwestern city of Taiz for the souls of the earthquake victims.
At least 19,388 people have died and 77,711 others are injured since Monday’s powerful earthquakes in southern Türkiye, according to the latest official figures.
The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes, centered in the Kahramanmaras province, have impacted some 13 million people across 10 Turkish provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Sanliurfa.
In neighboring Syria, the death toll has climbed above 3,300, with more than 5,200 people wounded, according to compiled figures.
* Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report.
