Iranians Are Licking Religious Shrines In Defiance Of Coronavirus Spread
Shocking footage has emerged of Iranians tempting fate by licking the doors and burial mound at the Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom, the epicenter of the Islamic Republic’s Covid-19 outbreak.
More videos are emerging of people licking the shrines in the city of Qom #CoronaVirus, the epicentre of the epidemic in Iran.
Iran's authorities still adamantly refuse to close these religious sites.
The virus is wreaking havoc all over the country pic.twitter.com/veCQd6ots6
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) March 1, 2020
Masih Alinejad, a journalist, shared the video of the disturbing practice noting that officials have refused to shut down the religious shrines.
The death toll in Iran is currently at 66, with over 1,500 infected.
In a tweet that was made by Masih, he said, “These pro-regime people are licking the shrines & encouraging people to visit them.”
He added, “Iran’s authorities are endangering lives of Iranians & the world.”
While the city of Qom is the epicentre of #CoronaVirus in Iran, authorities refuse to close down religious shrines there.
These pro-regime people are licking the shrines & encouraging people to visit them.
Iran's authorities are endangering lives of Iranians & the world pic.twitter.com/s9o6zYhzNQ
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) February 29, 2020
Pilgrims routinely kiss and lick religious shrines, which includes Qom, a place that is considered by many as a place for healing.
Those who were photographed can be seen licking the doors of the Qom.
People that were pictures and caught licking the doors said they do not care about what happens.
Despite restrictions on who is allowed in and out of the Qom, the seventh-largest city in Iran, the place has not been locked down amidst the medical crisis.
Ziba Rezaie, a retired teacher, said, “The smell of disinfectants has become my nightmare. The city smells like a cemetery, a morgue.”
On Monday, it was reported that a close adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died of the illness.
Masoumeh Ebtekar, a vice president, who is known as “Sister Mary”, has been confirmed to be infected with the virus.