1.3 Million Foreign Pilgrims Enter Iraq for Arbaeen So Far
The ministry said on Monday that so far, 1.297 million foreign pilgrims have arrived in Iraq via the land border crossings as well as airports in Baghdad, Najaf and Karbala.
Meanwhile, Khazir al-Safi, an official in Karbala Governorate, said a special security plan has been launched in the governorate with the participation of security forces from other provinces.
It is implemented under the supervision of Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari with the aim of ensuring the security of pilgrims during the Arbaeen season, he stated.
Also, Tahseen al-Khafaji, a spokesman for Iraq’s Joint Operation Headquarters, said that 20,000 forces from the army, police, Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) and other security apparatuses are involved in the implementation of the Arbaeen special security plan.
He said the Iraqi prime minister and the commander of the armed forces have underlined efforts to ensure the security of pilgrims.
In other related news, Athir al-Tamimi, an official with the Astan (custodianship) of Imam Ali (AS) holy shrine, highlighted the efforts to serve Arbaeen pilgrims.
He said meals are served to pilgrims for breakfast, lunch and dinner in 11 places around the mausoleum.
The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
It marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS). This year’s Arbaeen will fall on September 6.
Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.
The pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to the holy city.
Earlier this month, Iraqi officials expressed their readiness to host up to five million pilgrims from foreign countries during the Arbaeen season.
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