Abu Dhabi: Members of the Federal National Council on Tuesday passed a draft law regulating building, maintenance and religious activities at mosques across the UAE.
Under the bill, lectures, sermons, Quran memorisation, meetings, collecting donations, book distribution, among other activities, may not be carried out without permission from the Islamic affairs authorities.
The law also prohibits posting any material, providing Quran copies or furniture or holding Ramadan iftar banquets.
The draft law requires the final approval of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, before it is enforced.
According to the draft law, offenders may face a prison term of up to three months and a fine of not less than Dh20,000.