Sayyed Nasrallah Announces No Public Ashura Ceremonies as Part of Observing Health Protocols

By Staff, Agencies

Hezbollah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivered a speech on Monday evening ahead of the Islamic Hijri month of Muharram in which Ashura processions were used to be held.

This year, due to the spread of the Coronavirus, Sayyed Nasrallah urged Shia Muslims to hold mourning ceremonies of Muharram with health protocols in place.

His Eminence called for utilizing the social media to commemorate Muharram rituals instead of mass gatherings.

“The reality is that the COVID-19 in Lebanon is out of control and the hospitals no longer have the capacity for new patients. We have a shortage of medical equipment and medicine. Moreover, people do not observe health protocols," Sayyed Nasrallah added.

His Eminence noted that observing health protocols in mourning rituals is really difficult and stressed the need to avoid public gatherings in Muharram ceremonies.

Sayyed Nasrallah announced that Hezbollah and Amal Movement came to the conclusions that it is very difficult to observe these protocols in mourning ceremonies in Lebanon, adding that they cannot guarantee its observance. “We have decided not to hold ceremonies in the form of gatherings this year. We hold rituals at a specific time and broadcast them through media outlets,” he continued.

His Eminence further called on the Lebanese nation to follow the ceremonies through media outlets and hold rituals at their own homes in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

Sayyed Nasrallah also noted that no Ashura rallies will be held on the tenth of Muharram this year.