Ayatollah Arafi convenes extraordinary meeting over Corona virus

The head of the Islamic Seminaries of Iran convened an extraordinary meeting in response to the spread of the Coronavirus in Iran and the cancellation of courses at various levels in the Islamic Seminaries.

News ID: 449316

Date: 27 February 2020 - 13:51

RNA – An extraordinary meeting of the administrators and deputies of the Islamic Seminaries of Iran was held in Qom chaired by Ayatollah Alireza Arafi and attended by a number of deputies and administrators at the administration office of the Islamic Seminaries of Iran in Qom due to the present circumstances and the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

Classes have been cancelled for both the Islamic Seminaries and al-Mustafa International University in Qom this week. Many classes have been held online.

The head of the Islamic Seminaries of Iran said, “The Islamic Seminaries strive to transform existing threats into opportunities by vigorously and actively utilizing new educational capabilities and online education.”

Ayatollah Arafi examined the situation of schools, higher levels of learning, seminaries, as well as people who use new technologies and added, “The continuation of educational activities are appreciated for contributing to the dynamics of the seminaries in difficult conditions.”

His Eminence further praised the readiness of seminarian jihadi groups to assist educational and health officials in Qom province and said, “All this help and effort of the seminarian jihadis, which is truly worthy of appreciation, must be in full coordination with those involved in the University of Medical Sciences.”

He said, “Several important meetings, which have been closed due to preventive advice at this time, must be held in good time in the event of the disappearance of the threat of the Coronavirus.”

It must be noted that at the end of the meeting, the administrators and deputies of the Islamic Seminaries of Iran expressed concerns and issues about recent events in Qom and the country.

Coronavirus first emerged in China late last year and is now spreading in Europe and across the Middle East, sparking fears of a global pandemic.

The outbreak has killed more than 2,600 people and infected more than 77,000 others in China. But the situation has worsened elsewhere with nearly 2,700 other cases and more than 40 deaths globally.

In Iran, the virus showed up in the north-central city of Qom, a destination for Muslim pilgrims from across the world. In all, the spread has taken 19 lives across the country and infected as many as 139 others, most of them in Qom, according to the figures released on February 26th by Kianoush Jahanpour, the head of public relations and information centre of the Iranian Ministry of Health.

Rasa News Agency

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