COVID-19: China Follows Islam to Fight Coronavirus

Coronavirus

The dreaded Coronavirus (COVID-19) has brought people of the world (Muslims and non Muslims) closer to Allah in so many ways. 

COVID-19: Iran Is Being Victimized

Pro-Iran protester

The first case of corona virus in Iran was documented on  19^th February. Two elderly men in the city of Qom who were not known to have left the city recently were diagnosed with the deadly virus and died the same day. Ever since, cases and casualties have been on the rise. Cases currently stand at 67, 286 while deaths stand at 4, 003 sources say an Iranian citizen dies of corona virus every 10 minutes. Iran is currently the most affected Muslim country with over 9% of its government officials infected.

Impact on Iran

On Wednesday, Iran’s health ministry reported the number of people who had tested positive in the country had increased by 1,997 to 67, 286, and the death toll had risen by 121 and now stood at 4,003. According to official figures, at least six people die every hour in Iran from COVID-19. American sanctions on Iran are preventing the country from purchasing much needed medical supplies required to combat the pandemic.

Iran is currently the country with the most number of government officials infected with coronavirus. As of the month of March, victims included two vice-presidents, three cabinet officials, 9% of the members of parliament, the director of emergency medical services, the chief of the crisis-management organization, senior Revolutionary Guard officers, and prominent clerics are on a long list of officials infected. 

A doctor trained at Johns Hopkins University, Ali Akbar Velayati, who served as the Foreign Minister for sixteen years and is currently a senior adviser to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had to go into quarantine on 12^th March. At least 12 sitting or past Iranian politicians and government officials had died from the virus as at 17th March 2020.

American Collusion

The American government is reported to have made offers to provide assistance to the Iranian government to contain the disease; the Iranian authorities declined the offer.

Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

The supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khomeini, said in a televised speech on 22^nd March, “Several times Americans have offered to help us to fight the pandemic. That is strange because you face shortages in America. Also you are accused of creating this virus. I do not know whether it is true. But when there is such an allegation, can a wise man trust you and accept your help offer? ... You could be giving medicines to Iran that spread the virus or cause it to remain permanently. Our number one enemy is America. It is the most wicked, sinister enemy of Iran ... its leaders are terrorists ... Liars and charlatans. You might send people as doctors and therapists, maybe they would want to come here and see the effect of the poison they have produced in person. You might send people as doctors and therapists, maybe they would want to come here and see the effect of the poison they have produced in person. The Islamic Republic has the capability to overcome any kind of crisis and challenges, including the coronavirus outbreak”.

Last month, the Central Bank of Iran requested a $5 billion loan from the IMF’s Rapid Financing Initiative, an emergency programme set up to help countries faced with sudden shocks such as natural disasters to help fight the pandemic within its borders. On 8^th April, the Iranian government urged the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to which it is a member to approve the loan. America is standing in opposition to the loan saying Iran has enough resources to take care of itself.

Complicity of Western Media

Western and world media has also shown no sympathy for the people of Iran. An info graphic by the British publisher, The Guardian, has further shown the disdain for Iran in Western media in the midst of the ongoing crisis. Australia with a total of 6, 024 cases and 50 deaths, Japan with a total of 4, 257 cases and 81 deaths were both captured but Iran with 67, 286 cases and 4, 003 deaths did not even get the slightest recognition. Western media outfits are doing their damnedest not to mention Iran in news bulletins that involve coronavirus. Iran is currently the country with the 7^th highest number of cases and the 6^th highest number of deaths with now more deaths than China.

Why Iran?

The West, head by America, has tried to bring the Islamic government of Iran to its knees through economic sanctions and media propaganda for nearly two decades, the country has continued to grow in influence by leaps and bounds. The west has been trying to plant its roots deeper in the Middle East in recent years; the presence of Iran in the region has been an impediment to that goal.

Genesis of the Virus

Late Dr. Li Wenliang

The most prominent early person to alert the world of coronavirus was a 33 year old Chinese ophthalmologist, Dr Li Wenliang, through a video chat on 30th December. Four days later, Dr. Li was summoned to the Public Security Bureau (Police) where he was coerced into sign a letter in which he was accused of "making false comments" that had "severely disturbed the social order".

The letter read, "We solemnly warn you: If you keep being stubborn, with such impertinence, and continue this illegal activity, you will be brought to justice - is that understood?" Underneath that in Dr. Li's handwriting is written: "Yes, I do."

Dr. Li Wenliang was one of eight people who police said were being investigated for "spreading rumours".

The corona virus broke out in Wuhan province of China on 1^st December 2019. The disease spread to other parts of China and neighboring Asian countries. The first case of COVID-19 outside China was reported in Thailand on 13^th January. On 30^th January 2020, the world health Organization declared corona virus a pandemic. 

Corona virus has been nicknamed the elite disease because a lot of its victims have ranged from celebrities to the bourgeois up to government officials.

Global coronavirus casualty reports currently has documented 1, 504, 971 cases, 87, 983 deaths and 290, 729 recoveries.