About two men in Iran who defied coronavirus health warnings and precautions could be jailed and flogged after videos circulated of them licking holy shrine.
In another video at a holy shrine in Mashhad a man is filmed saying he is there to lick the holy shrine, “so the disease can go inside my body and others can visit it with no anxiety”.
MP Hasan Nowrozi said: “Those doing such unconventional acts are publishing fake and superstitious news against the officials in the country.
“Such people would face two months to two years [in] jail and up to 74 lashes as punishment.”
The arrests came after videos of the men were posted on social media by Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad.
“Arresting these two people is not enough as the religious centres are still open in Qom and other cities where people are suffering from coronavirus” she told the BBC.
Iran has recorded one of the highest numbers of coronavirus cases outside China.
While some measures have been taken to protect visitors – such as disinfecting holy shrines – there hasn’t been an outright closure of the sites.While some measures have been taken to protect visitors – such as disinfecting holy shrines – there hasn’t been an outright closure of the sites.
Millions of people visit the shrines every year, spending many hours praying near them, or kissing and touching them.
Source BBC News https://bbc.in/3asOea9
