Iranian clerics keep shrines open, even as virus spreads
(WorldNews Iran)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Shiite shrines that attract tens of millions of visitors annually have come under focus in Iran as the country grapples with the spread of the coronavirus. The outbreak of the virus in Iran prompted the government to request the closure of major shrines in cities like Qom, Mashhad and Shiraz, but Iran’s powerful clerics have rejected or ignored the notices. The decision to keep the shrines open shows the power of Iran’s religious establishment and the Shiite theocracy’s approach to the widening crisis. While the government has suspended school across much of Iran this week and canceled soccer matches and screenings at cinemas, the...