The story: As Iran is facing its fifth deadly wave of the corona-virus, with hundreds of deaths reported every day, a number of religious associations have come under the spotlight for organizing Shiite mourning rituals in connection with the martyrdom anniversary of Hussein ibn Ali, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Given that the gatherings tend to attract packed crowds, several senior Iranian clerics have notably dissuaded participation in such religious events.

The coverage: A new surge in Covid-19 cases amid the spread of the Delta variant of the virus is claiming many lives in Iran...