Saudi Arabia has officially confirmed that live broadcasts and filming from the two holiest mosques in Islam—Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah—will continue uninterrupted during Ramadan 2025.
This clarification comes after several news outlets falsely reported a blanket ban on filming and broadcasting prayers in mosques across the kingdom.
The Islamic Information, in direct communication with authorities at Haramain, confirmed that claims of a broadcast ban for the holy mosques are “false information.” A spokesperson stated, “The broadcast from the holy mosques during Ramadan will not be stopped. Anyone claiming otherwise is spreading misinformation.”
Filming Ban on Other Mosques Across Saudi Arabia not Holy Mosques
On February 22, 2025, multiple media outlets erroneously reported that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs had imposed a complete ban on filming and live broadcasts during prayers.
These reports stemmed from a ministry directive regulating activities in mosques nationwide, which restricts cameras and broadcasts in other mosques to preserve decorum. However, the policy explicitly excludes Makkah and Madinah’s holy sites.
The live coverage of Taraweeh prayers, Friday sermons, and rituals at the Kaaba will proceed as usual. “Broadcasts will continue 24/7 through state channels like Quran TV and Sunnah TV,” the source confirmed.
Ministry’s Stance on Mosque Filming
While the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has prohibited filming in general mosques during Ramadan to minimize distractions, this rule does not apply to Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi. The ministry’s guidelines for 2025 include:
- Banning cameras in other mosques during prayers.
- Prohibiting unauthorized broadcasts from non-holy sites.
- Restricting donations and Iftar meals to designated areas outside prayer halls.
Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al Sudais, Head of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque, reiterated the ministry’s focus on enhancing services for pilgrims, including digitizing operations to streamline the Umrah experience.
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