WATCH: Msida Muslims claim they are only praying and not inconveniencing anybody

Posted On - Report: Keith Demicoli

About 200 Muslims gathered in St Joseph Square in front of the Msida parish church to manifest their traditional Friday prayers despite extensive objections by local residents.

Muslims began to congregate at about 1.10pm some of them with prayer mats which they spread about the wharf right in front of a traditional Christmas tree.

Some members of this congregation speaking to tvm.com.mt said they had Police permission to pray in that area because of problems and public objections to their praying in other areas. They said they preferred praying there instead of going to the Paola mosque because it was nearer to their places of work and nearer the school. They explained that while understanding the concern of the residents they were only praying and not causing any inconvenience to anybody.

Friday prayers usually last for about one hour and this is the fourth time that prayers have been held in this area.