Over 13 million Shiite pilgrims crowded Iraq's holy city of Karbala Tuesday to mark the annual Arbaeen commemoration, under tight security less than a year after the country declared victory over the Islamic State group.

Arbaeen is one of the world's biggest religious festivals and marks the end of the 40-day mourning period for the seventh-century killing of Imam Hussein by the forces of the Caliph Yazid -- a formative event in Shiite Islam.

Dressed in black, pilgrims beat their heads and chests as they thronged the golden-domed mausoleum where the Prophet Mohammed's grandson is buried.

Imam Hussein's killing in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD was part of a fierce dispute over who should succeed the Prophet, which eventually developed into a bitter schism between the Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam.

The authorities estimated that more than 13 million worshippers had flocked to Karbala, 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of Baghdad, from across Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Gulf states and even Europe and the US.

Some 1.8 million visas were handed out to worshippers from neighbouring Iran.

Kuwaiti Ahmed Hussein lauded his "brother Iraqis who have been so generous" to the pilgrims as they journeyed for hundreds of kilometres by foot to their destination.

As tradition dictates those living along the route offered free meals, cups of tea and even massages to the passing faithful.

Niman al-Bachashi had come from Najaf, another Iraqi holy city, and insisted that he felt "no threat" despite fresh memories of the carnage that has rocked Iraq.

Baghdad declared victory over the Sunni jihadists of IS in December after a brutal fight to drive them from Iraqi towns and cities.

But the jihadists still roam areas along the border with Syria and maintain the capacity to launch deadly attacks.

To protect the Arbaeen commemoration 30,000 soldiers and police officers were deployed, as well as 22,000 fighters from the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary forces, commanders said.

Security forces checked pilgrims and vehicles and guarded hundreds of kilometres of roads leading to Karbala.

Related Links
Iraq: The first technology war of the 21st century

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Almost 2 million Iranian pilgrims head into Iraq for Arbaeen
Mehran, Iran (AFP) Oct 28, 2018
At the border town of Mehran between Iran and Iraq, a sea of pilgrims surges forwards, en route to one of the biggest religious pilgrimages on the planet. Iranian organisers say more than 1.8 million Iraqi visas have been issued for Iranians this year for the Arbaeen pilgrimage which culminates on Tuesday as the devout head, many by foot, to Karbala and one of the holiest sites of Shiite Islam, the shrine of Imam Hussein. Men and women, young and old, toddlers in prams and elderly pushed in whee ... read more