Newly elected Iranian MP dies of ‘flu’ amid coronavirus outbreak
March 1, 2020, 11:39 am

Newly elected Iranian MP dies of ‘flu’ amid coronavirus outbreak

Iranian lawmaker Mohammed Ali Ramazani Dastak died in disputed circumstances as coronavirus continued to spread across Iran. (Twitter)

Iranian lawmaker Mohammad Ali Ramazani Dastak died in disputed circumstances on Saturday as coronavirus continued to spread across Iran.

Official news agencies say that Dastak died of the flu, but other media reports claim Dastak is the latest Iranian official to have a case of coronavirus. Iran’s deputy health minister and several prominent MPs have all reported cases of coronavirus.

Find out more in our dedicated coronavirus section here.

Dastak was “hospitalized due to influenza and chemical injuries” dating back to the Iran-Iraq war, according to a report by The Independent, which cited Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency.

But other journalists reported that Dastak, who was elected as one of the MPs in February, died of coronavirus.

Watch: Clinic in Iran torched, believed to be coronavirus quarantine

“Newly elected MP Mohammad Ramazani died due to a coronavirus infection,” Iranian journalist Mohamad Ahwaze said in a tweet.

Iran confirmed on Saturday 205 new cases of coronavirus within a 24-hour period, according to Iran state TV, bringing the total to 593.

There have been 43 officially confirmed deaths in Iran due to coronavirus. However, on Friday BBC Persian reported that the death toll was much higher and has reached 210, citing Iranian hospital sources.

PM Netanyahu pledges ‘immediate’ annexation steps if re-elected ‘Lick the shrine’ videos in Iran go viral amid coronavirus fears

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”