Iran marks low-key Muharram month amid rising coronavirus cases

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN (AA) - Iranians marked the events of Ashura on Thursday with subdued public ceremonies amid COVID-19 curbs in the wake of the fifth wave of the pandemic.

The 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, also known as Ashura, marks the martyrdom anniversary of Prophet Mohammad’s grandson Hussain in the desert plains of Karbala, Iraq.

The event is marked in Shia-majority Iran with massive public gatherings and street processions, but for the second year on the trot, the annual commemorations were scaled down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Iran, grappling with the fifth wave of the pandemic driven by the Delta variant, canceled all major Muharram processions and indoor ceremonies this year.

But the outdoor ceremonies were permitted with adherence to health protocols.

Recent weeks have seen record numbers of infections and deaths in Iran, prompting the authorities to lock down major cities, including the capital Tehran, but the measures have failed to contain the disease.

On Thursday, the Middle East's worst-affected country recorded 31,266 new cases and 564 fatalities, pushing the death toll above 100,000, and raising the total infections above 4.5 million.

The slow rate of public vaccination has compounded the problem, especially with the emergence of new variants. So far, around 21.4 million vaccines have been given across the country, and nearly 5.23 million people have been fully vaccinated.

In Iran, during the Muharram month, ceremonies generally continue for two weeks, mostly in the evenings. But Ashura sees larger ceremonies from morning till evening. This year, due to a ban on indoor events, ceremonies were held in parks, mosque courtyards, and roundabouts.

In the cities of Mashhad and Qom, home to two important Shia shrines, Muharram commemorations were also low-key. Mashhad, bordering Afghanistan, is one of the worst-hit cities in Iran.

Last year, Muharram ceremonies had resulted in a fresh pandemic wave, sparking fears that this year's events, although held in open spaces, could exacerbate the crisis.

Iran's newly-elected President Ebrahim Raeisi, speaking at a Muharram event in Tehran on Wednesday night, urged people to strictly comply with health guidelines.

He described Muharram commemorations as a "lesson in justice, righteousness, and struggle against oppression in all ages and eras."