Journal ArticleOpen Access
The Role of Clerics in Confronting the COVID-19 Crisis in Iran
Author Affiliations
Iran University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Urmia University of Technology, ...
Published InJournal of Religion and Health
Year2021
Citations54
Abstract
Clerics were an authoritative and prominent group in society during the spread of the COVID-19 in Iran. Some of them contributed to social welfare services to assist Iranians. However, others engaged in improper activities, such as calling the COVID-19 pandemic a hoax, standing against the quarantine rules, questioning the scientific methods of preventing COVID-19, and offering incorrect strategies that affected prevention and treatment. Yet, clerics are powerful social assets in Iranian society who have the status to help minimize the spread and effects of pandemics upon Iranian people. As a result, their assistance and influence must be used to combat the COVID-19 crisis. This paper argues that clerics in Iran should motivate people to uphold and obey health norms in…
View at Publisher
BORR does not host full-text PDFs. The button above takes you to the original publisher.