- Title: Shi'ite Muslims travel to Iraq to mark annual Arbaeen pilgrimage
- Date: 16th October 2019
- Summary: KARBALA, IRAQ (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS WALKING TOWARD SHRINE OF IMAM HUSSEIN, GRANDSON OF PROPHET MOHAMMED, FOR ARBAEEN PILGRIMAGE VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS WALKING OUTSIDE SHRINE OF IMAM HUSSEIN / GOLDEN DOME OF HOLY SHRINE PILGRIMS AT SHRINE OF IMAM HUSSEIN BASRA, IRAQ (OCTOBER 12, 2019) (REUTERS) IRANIAN PILGRIMS THROUGH ENTRANCE OF SHALAMCHEH BORDER CROSSING POINT IRANIAN PILGRIMS WALKING / MAN RAISING FLAG WOMEN GATHERING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRANIAN PILGRIM, ABAS MUHEISEN, SAYING: "Thank God, I've come twice this year to visit (the shrine of Imam Hussein). Thank God, everything is going well, there hasn't been any crowding on our way and the security is good. Everything is good and all pilgrims I've come across are satisfied." VARIOUS OF IRANIAN PILGRIMS QUEUING UP TO GET DOCUMENTS CHECKED AND CHANTING (Arabic): "For you, Ali" VARIOUS OF IRAQI SECURITY TROOPS SEARCHING BAGS OF PILGRIMS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF SHALAMCHEH BORDER POINT AND BRIGADIER GENERAL, ALI KHAZA'L, SAYING: "In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, the Shalamcheh border point has started to receive visitors who are coming to commemorate the Arbaeen of Imam Hussein. The number has reached 600,000 visitors as of today.'' VARIOUS OF IRANIAN WOMEN PILGRIMS QUEUING UP FOR DOCUMENT CHECK AT ENTRANCE OF SHALAMCHEH BORDER POINT WOMAN STANDING IN LINE AND HOLDING UP PASSPORT WOMEN STANDING IN LINE VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS GETTING INTO TRAIN HEADING TO KARBALA PILGRIMS WALKING PAST TRAIN TRAIN MOVING TOWARD KARBALA NAJAF, IRAQ (OCTOBER 12, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PLANES WITH PILGRIMS ON BOARD MOVING ACROSS TARMAC OF NAJAF AIRPORT PILGRIMS DISEMBARKING FROM PLANE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KUWAITI PILGRIM, HAMDAN AL-SIRHAN, SAYING: "Thanks to God, I thank God and pray that the security in Iraq will be maintained. So far, it is safe and there are many rumours being circulated to affect this visit." VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS GETTING OUT OF AIRPORT BUSES AND ENTERING ARRIVAL HALL VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS AT ARRIVAL HALL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF NAJAF AIRPORT LOUNGES, HAFIDH AL-GHAZALI, SAYING: "The Najaf airport is fully prepared to receive the number (of people) who are coming through this airport. Our preparations have been completed, God willing. We have prepared all our cadres, capabilities and equipment to receive visitors smoothly." VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS GATHERING AT ARRIVAL HALL KARBALA, IRAQ (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS WALKING TOWARD SHRINE OF IMAM HUSSEIN
- Embargoed: 30th October 2019 14:14
- Keywords: Iraqi pilgrimage Arbaeen pilgrimage shrine of Imam Hussein Shi'ite Muslims
- Location: BASRA, NAJAF AND KARBALA, IRAQ
- City: BASRA, NAJAF AND KARBALA, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001B1CKVH1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Shi'ite Muslims from around the world are travelling to Iraq on foot and by air, to reach Iraq's southern holy city of Karbala where they will mark the annual pilgrimage of Arbaeen.
The holy day marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, Imam Hussein.
Iranian pilgrims are making their way to Iraq through the border point of Shalamcheh.
As of Saturday (October 12), 600,000 people had used the crossing point to enter Iraq for the pilgrimage, said the director of the Shalamcheh border point, Ali Khaza'l.
After crossing into Iraq, the pilgrims take trains bound for Karbala, where they can visit the shrine of Imam Hussien.
Meanwhile, other pilgrims from various other countries are making their way to Iraq through the southern city of Najaf whose airport is overflowing with pilgrims.
Although the climax of the Arbaeen pilgrimage in Karbala is due to be marked on Saturday (October 19), pilgrims are already visiting Karbala and paying their respects at the shrine of Imam Hussein.
According to Islamic tradition, Imam Hussein was killed in battle in 680.
During the annual ritual of Ashura, millions of Shi'ite Muslims gather at shrines and mosques in Karbala and other parts of Iraq to mourn his death with expressions of suffering. Self-flagellation is a big part of the ritual.
Most Sunni Muslims also mourn Hussein's death, but less fervently, and Ashura is a reminder of Sunni-Shi'ite rifts dating from disputes over the Prophet Mohammad's succession.
(Production: Mohammed A'ty, Ahmed Saeed, Mohammed al-Ramahi, Mohammed Katfan) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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