Widespread rejection to close the Holy Shrine of Imam Redha

The tomb of Imam Redha in Iran’s holy city of Mashhad has been closed to pilgrims for three days in line with measures to stop the new coronavirus, a spokesman said Sunday.

The tomb of Imam Redha in Iran’s holy city of Mashhad has been closed to pilgrims for three days in line with measures to stop the new coronavirus, a spokesman said Sunday.

“Currently, the porches of the mausoleum and generally all the covered spaces of the holy shrine are closed,” the spokesman for the shrine told AFP.

He added that group prayers had been cancelled “except in open spaces and courtyards of the mausoleum where there are few pilgrims these days.”

This sparked widespread rejection by countless people, describing the move as illegal.

Iran said Sunday that its COVID-19 outbreak has now killed 724 people among 13,938 cases of infection.

More than 560 of the infections have been confirmed in Khorasan Razavi province, where Mashhad is located.