Shafaq News / The Top Religious Authority, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani stressed the need to commit on preventing gatherings, including holding group prayers in light of the spread of Corona virus.

He answered a question addressed to Al- Sistani’s authority office .. What is the opinion of the supreme authority on participating in the congregational prayer in these days witnessing the spread of Corona virus?". He answered, "Where such gatherings are prevented in order to limit the spread of Corona virus, this prevention must be adhered to and taken seriously".

The Supreme Religious Authority did not perform last Friday's prayers, for the first time since the fall of former President Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, for fear of spreading the new Corona virus.

In Najaf, Imam Ali's shrine was opened to visitors, after intense pressure from the cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who gathered thousands of his supporters to perform Friday prayers in Al- Kufa mosque.