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Muslims pray in Berlin church to comply with social distancing rules

A Berlin church is hosting Muslims who are unable to fit into their mosque for Friday prayers because of social distancing guidelines.

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Muslims pray in Berlin church to comply with social distancing rules

"It was a strange feeling because of the musical instruments, the pictures," said worshipper Samer Hamdoun. "But when you look, when you forget the small details, this is the House of God in the end..."

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Muslims pray in Berlin church to comply with social distancing rules

The Islamic Council, an umbrella group of 400 mosques, said in April that many face bankruptcy because the closures stretched into the holy fasting month of Ramadan, usually a vital period for donations.

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Muslims pray in Berlin church to comply with social distancing rules

The church's pastor, Monika Matthias, said she had felt moved by the Muslim call to prayer.

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Muslims pray in Berlin church to comply with social distancing rules

"I took part in the prayer," she said. "I gave a speech in German. And during prayer, I could only say yes, yes, yes, because we have the same concerns and we want to learn from you. And it is beautiful to feel that way about each other."