Religious Gatherings: A Stand Against Imperialist Individualism

Religious Gatherings: A Stand Against Imperialist Individualism Religious gatherings broke the isolation of people during COVID-19

Individualism was one of the phenomena that intensified globally after the COVID-19 pandemic. The nature of the disease forced people to suspend social activities, stay home, and distance themselves from others. However, Iranians have long been among the most socially connected societies in the world, and this wave of individualism seriously threatened their way of life.

Many Iranian customs are inherently social, and their suspension during the pandemic could have severely harmed religious, cultural, and national beliefs. For example, Iranian culture is incomplete without events like Nowruz or the mourning of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) on Ashura.

It was the religious gatherings of Imam Hussein that broke this spell. Instead of canceling these events like much of the world, religious groups in Iran chose to strictly follow health protocols to preserve these social-religious traditions while preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Thanks to consistent organization and infrastructural support, these gatherings were held across Iran with full adherence to health guidelines—proving that social events could continue safely even during a pandemic, minimizing the social damage caused by COVID-19.