Muslims given temporary use of Ospizio for Friday prayers - no further meetings at Msida
Members of the Muslim community in Malta will no longer be controversially meeting in Msida for Friday prayers following agreement with the government, which has given them temporary use of an outdoors area (currently used as an unofficial car park) at the zone known as the Ospizio in Floriana.
The Ospizio forms part of a complex of buildings used by the Education Department.
Talks are being held for a long-term solution, the government said.
The Friday prayers at Msida caused an outcry in some quarters and a protest was held on Sunday.
The issue was discussed during the programme TimesTalk last Tuesday. See a repeat on http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20160116/timestalk/should-the-muslim-community-be-allowed-to-pray-in-public.598974
In August 2008 the then Culture Ministry said there were plans for the Ospizio to be turned into an arts village, but the project never materialised.