‘Dress appropriately’ shrine visitors told

SCANTILY clad visitors to the holiest Islamic site in Cyprus are being told to cover up because they are distracting worshippers.

Imam Şakir Alemdar said he had resorted to handing out gowns to “halfnaked” tourists arriving at the Hala Sultan Tekke, near Larnaca in South Cyprus.

He denied claims made by some Greek Cypriot media reports, however, that female sightseers were being forced to cover their heads or even wear “burkas” to enter the grounds.

“The issue of inappropriate clothing has going on for many years,” the imam told Cyprus Today yesterday.

“Both female and male tourists come to the tekke [shrine] in swimwear, some in their swimming trunks, some in their bikinis, or in miniskirts. This is not appropriate dress.

“When praying is taking place inside, you can see half-naked people . . . outside from the window.

“We appreciate it is hot, but this is not an excuse. We have therefore asked for loose gowns to be placed at the main garden entrance and for people to cover themselves up before entering the gardens.”

Mr Alemdar said most tourists “respected” the decision, which he said had “nothing to do with Islam”.

“It is a universal rule that people dress appropriately at places of worship,” he said, adding that “normal” Tshirts and “long shorts” were acceptable.

Mr Alemdar added that he also had to remind tourists to remove their footwear before entering the mosque.

He said the problem of inappropriate dress was particularly acute at Hala Sultan Tekke because of its close proximity to Larnaca and its sacred status on the island.

Mr Alemdar said he had asked South Cyprus tourism officials to advise tour guides and travel agencies of the new dress code, a request that he said had been met “positively”. Greek Cypriot officials had also agreed to put up notices at the site advising tourists.

Hala Sultan Tekke is located by the Larnaca salt lake, some 3km southwest of the city. It is said to be built on the burial place of the aunt of the Prophet Muhammad, Umm Harram, who died after falling from a mule in 648AD.

It ranks behind only Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia and the AlAqsa mosque in Jerusalem in its importance to the Islamic world.