NEW YORK — The Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations Ambassador Abdullah Bin Yahya Al-Muallimi said that the exceptional and painful decision taken by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to suspend the prayers in the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah confirms that Islam puts life and health as priority. The envoy said, that the suspension of prayers, for the first time in centuries during the most holy month, the blessed month of Ramadan, confirms the fact that Islam bolsters life and puts human health above all considerations, and that the decision was taken based on the guidance of public health experts to limit the spread and repercussions of the novel coronavirus. Al-Muallimi’s statement came during his participation in the virtual high-level meeting organized by the permanent delegation of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations, on the role of officials of religious institutions of various religions in addressing the multiple challenges of COVID-19. He reaffirmed that this decision was very difficult for many Muslims who were looking to visit the holiest parts of the earth, noting that the decision had the support of the Council of Senior Scholars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and was supported by many similar bodies and councils around the world. — SPA