Islamic Affairs: 774 violations against mosque services were recorded in 2025
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance revealed its intensive monitoring efforts to protect mosques and their facilities, announcing the detection of 774 cases of tampering with electricity and water services provided to mosques in several regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the year 2025. These measures are part of the periodic monitoring reports issued by the Ministry to ensure the sustainability of services provided to worshippers and to safeguard public funds.
Details of violations and remediation efforts
The ministry explained in its detailed statistical report that the total number of violations observed was divided into (577) cases of tampering with electricity networks and (197) cases of tampering with water supplies. The technical and monitoring teams dealt with these reports with high efficiency, addressing (742) cases, including (569) related to electricity and (173) related to water, while (32) cases are still undergoing the necessary procedures for final resolution.
The context of caring for mosques and the sanctity of public funds
These efforts are particularly important given the great care that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia devotes to mosques, allocating substantial budgets to ensure the comfort of worshippers and provide all essential services, including air conditioning, lighting, and water for ablution. Any encroachment upon these services constitutes a waste of resources allocated to houses of worship and is contrary to Islamic values, which urge the veneration of God's rituals and the preservation of public endowments. The Ministry operates according to a strategy aimed at increasing the efficiency of operational spending and ensuring that services reach their intended beneficiaries without waste.
Operational impact and continuation of field visits
The ministry indicated that the violations consisted of exploiting electricity and water resources belonging to mosques for personal or commercial purposes not designated for them. This places a significant burden on operational facilities and can sometimes lead to service interruptions for worshippers or technical malfunctions due to overloading. The ministry affirmed the continuation of field monitoring and follow-up visits through its branches in various regions of the Kingdom, emphasizing that it will not hesitate to take strict legal measures against violators in full coordination with relevant security and service authorities.
Call for community participation
In closing, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance called upon all citizens and residents to play an active role in protecting mosques and to cooperate with the Ministry in safeguarding them by immediately reporting any observations or suspected violations against mosque services or property. The Ministry clarified that communication channels are open 24/7 through the unified call center (1933) or by visiting its branches in various regions, emphasizing that community awareness is the first line of defense in preserving these sacred sites.
