The Saudi government has inaugurated a fresh council, directly overseen by the king, to manage the affairs of Islam’s two holiest mosques, as reported by Saudi state media on Thursday.
According to a government statement on the state news agency SPA, posted on the social media platform X, the newly formed body will “govern the religious matters of the two sacred mosques in Mecca and Medina.”
This council, replacing a prior entity under government control rather than royal authority, is expected to enjoy increased financial and administrative autonomy.
The Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina hold a preeminent position in Islam, serving as its two holiest sites. The newly established council will assume the responsibility of overseeing activities within both locations, encompassing religious teachings, sermons, and calls to prayer, as outlined in the statement.
