Two apartments that were used as makeshift mosques in 2009 did not have the necessary permits allowing people to congregate, a court heard yesterday.

Mouwafak Toutoungi, Tariq Razee Hidayathullah, Haroun Ali, Mouhanad Toutoungi, Elkatwy Houssein, Ahmed Hussein and Ashraf Abde Azzedine filed an application against the Commissioner of Police and the Mepa chairman requesting damages.

They argue that an enforcement notice issued against them breached their human rights.

The case dates to 2009, when a report was filed with Mepa about a Sliema flat where people met to pray. Mr Toutoungi had written to Mepa saying the flat could never be considered a mosque.

Mr Justice Silvio Meli yesterday heard Mepa legal representative Oliver Magro say the buildings were two apartments in Sliema and St Paul’s Bay. Two enforcement notices were issued because there had been a change in the use of the property from a place of residence to one where people congregated, he added.

He said usually no permits were needed for a one-off prayer meeting, though police clearance could be required. If the place was regularly used for such activities, a permit was necessary, irrespective of the organisation or religion.