MAKKAH, 5 June 2006 — Illegal Africans who wash cars in the Al-Rusaifa district of Makkah are stealing water from a mosque washroom causing great inconvenience to worshippers, Al-Madinah newspaper reported yesterday.
“These workers do not have work permits and have converted the area around the mosque into a huge car-wash,” said Sheikh Umar Al-Saggaf, imam of the Prince Ahmad Mosque in Al-Rusaifa.
Al-Saggaf said the Africans use large quantities of water from the mosque tank, which is kept for the use of worshippers. “They are denying regular worshippers the opportunity to join congregational prayers,” he added.
The imam said the men work in front of the mosque from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. causing hindrance to worshippers and people living close by. He added that on several occasions the men switch on their car stereos with scant regard for the sanctity of the mosque.
Local resident, Saeed Al-Ghamdi, demanded that the police maintain a presence in the area particularly in the evening.
The head of local police said his men were trying hard to stop illegal people working.
He also said that citizens had a duty of cooperating with the police by not offering illegal foreigners jobs. “It is people who do not cooperate with the police that enable undocumented workers thrive here,” the police officer said.
