Iran: Coronavirus death toll exceeds 8,800

The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI / MEK) announced this afternoon, Saturday of March 21, 2020, that the number of Coronavirus deaths has risen to 8,800 in 201 cities across Iran. According to numerous reports from sources in hospitals, local officials, and the main cemetery of Qom, the number of victims in this city has surpassed 1,300. The death toll in Gilan has passed 900, in Kurdistan 180, in Golestan 420, in Khuzestan 310, in Central Province 200, and in Kerman 60.

Reports from Qom show that regrettably, 60 to 70 people are dying of Coronavirus every day, and mortuaries cannot accommodate them. Clerics in Qom have requested those in charge of Behesht-e-Zahra Cemetery in Tehran to bury some of the deceased in Qom, but those officials have rejected the request because of the large number of deaths in Tehran.

In Tehran at least 1,250 victims were buried in Behesht-e-Zahra by March 18. A large number of Coronavirus victims have been buried ostensibly under other causes. Several workers at the mortuary, including five women, who worked in sections not designated for Coronavirus victims, were infected with the virus. More than 100 people who are dying of coronavirus are being transferred to Behesht-e-Zahra on a daily basis. A contract to dig 10,000 new graves in the cemetery has recently been signed.

While other countries around the world are compensating workers and employees so that they can stay at home, today, Hassan Rouhani shamelessly said, “It’s the counter-revolutionaries’ conspiracy to shut down businesses and economic activity in Iran. We must not let this happen; we must all work within the framework of health protocols.” At the same time, to balancehis remarks, he urged people to “Stay at home for 10 to 15 days, don’t travel, and be cautious. This is not for two or three months, God willing, if we are careful, the circumstances will automatically change by April 1, 2020”.

On the other hand, Rouhani’s deputy minister of Health said, “We will get rid of the disease by the end of June if we observe the preventive measures.” He also added that “the economic, social and cultural situation in our country does not allow us to quarantine any city.”

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) emphasized that the main obstacle to confront Coronavirus is the incompetent, medieval dictatorship ruling Iran that has plundered the country’s resources either for repression and terrorism or in pursuit of its warmongering and unpatriotic nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Only a portion of the pillaged public funds stacked in IRGC or Khamenei affiliated cartels is sufficient to cover the necessary cost to cover Coronavirus preventive measures and pay the salaries of workers, teachers, and employees so that they would not have to go to work to make their ends meet.

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
March 21, 2020