People in a southeastern city of Mauritania took to the streets Friday in protest at the government’s move to shut down Quran institutes and Quranic kindergartens.
The protest rally was held after Friday prayers in the city of Nema, Hodh Ech Chargui province, near the border with Mali, al-Seraj website reported.
They condemned the move to close down the Malik Quranic Institute in the city as well as Quran education institutes in a nearby province.
There were a number of clashes between the demonstrators and police, the report said.
Religious leaders and preachers in the city have warned against disrupting religious and Quranic education.
The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb region of western North Africa.
The country’s population is estimated to be about 4 million and virtually all Mauritanians are Muslims.
/149