Closure of Religious Sites, Prison Furloughs Extended in Iran
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Religious holy sites and mosques in Iran will remain closed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus until May 4, President Hassan Rouhani said, noting that the Judiciary has also extended furloughs for prisoners for one more month.
Addressing a Sunday session of the Coronavirus Fight National Headquarters, Rouhani said the closure of holy sites and mosques will continue until May 4 at the headquarters’ discretion.
He also expressed hope that improvement of the situation in the battle with the coronavirus would allow the people to go to the religious sites afterwards.
The president also noted that the prison furloughs granted in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak were initially going to end on April 19, but the Judiciary has decided to extend them for one more month.
The inmates that do not pose a threat to social security can enjoy the prison leave until May 20, he added.
Rouhani further said that the decision about closure of schools and universities has not changed, and that students should keep receiving education via remote learning programs at home.
More than 56,000 patients have recovered from the coronavirus in Iran, as the daily death toll from COVID-19 in the country dropped for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday.