Hawzah News Agency - (Najaf - Iraq) - The supreme religious authority, Ayatollah Sistani issued a fatwa on Monday that it is not permissible for the person infected with the Corona virus to mingle with others so that the infection can be transmitted to them, indicating that he must pay the "blood money" (Diya) in case one of them dies as a result of transmitting the disease.

In response to a question from his followers, Ayatollah Sistani said, “The one who has this disease and who has some possible signs of it, is it permissible for him to mingle with others who are not aware of his condition, and if he does so and the infection is passed on to them, what is his responsibility towards them?”Ayatollah Sistani replied, “It is not permissible for him to mingle with others so that the infection is likely to be passed on to them, and if he did and caused infection to others who are unaware of his condition, he must be a guarantor due to the harm caused by him to the affected person.

Another question stated, "Is it necessary to avoid contact with others - who are likely to contract the disease - by shaking hands, hugging, kissing, or the like, and is it permissible to be in contact with them without taking precautionary measures such as wearing masks?,Ayatollah  Sistani replied," Who is afraid that infection is transmitted to him as a result of contact or mingling, and he is severely affected, even without death. He is required to avoid it, except with taking the necessary precautionary measures - such as sterilization and using the appropriate masks and medical gloves - so that he is satisfied with him not to become ill, and if he does not adhere to     what was mentioned and affected to what he feared , he will not be exempt in Sharia.

Ayatollah Sistani stressed "the necessity of commitment from outside the country to Iraq with quarantine, as  Ayatollah Sistani authorized" the exchange of legal rights from Zakat and al-Khomos in providing the tools necessary to protect from the transmission of infections from the infected person such as medical masks, sterile materials, as well as drugs and other requirements that are urgently needed in fighting this epidemic. "

He called for "appropriate caution with this epidemic without panic and disorder, and take the fullest prevention and treatment as decided by the specialists away from non-scientific methods, and working to make others aware of the dangers of underestimating this virus and urging them to adhere to the directions issued by the concerned authorities and commit to them."

 Ayatollah Sistani also called for "helping families affected by the current situation because of business suspension and restricting the movement of people, caring for the infected people regardless of their religious and sectarian affiliations, and seeking to alleviate them and help them in what they need."