- Title: Shi'ite Muslims gather in Iraq for Arbaeen pilgrimage amid heightened security
- Date: 18th October 2019
- Summary: KARBALA, IRAQ (OCTOBER 18, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS GATHERED, GOLDEN DOME OF HOLY SHRINE OF IMAM HUSSEIN SECURITY TROOPS STANDING TROOPS WALKING AMONG PILGRIMS VARIOUS OF TROOPS SEARCHING PILGRIMS ENTERING SHRINE VARIOUS OF TROOPS SEARCHING PILGRIM'S BAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF KARBALA POLICE'S MASS MEDIA OFFICE, COLONEL ALA AL-GANIMI, SAYING: "God willing, these efforts and the security plan will be crowned with success. Around 35,000 security forces who represent the army and police are involved in protecting pilgrims. Moreover, there are troops from other units and Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces) available to secure Karbala's borders from any attack that might target pilgrims.'' PILGRIMS GATHERED, PILGRIMS WAVING FLAGS DURING CEREMONY VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS BEATING CHESTS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PILGRIM FROM BASRA, ABDUL-KARIM ABDUL-RAHIM, SAYING: "Thanks to God, we came from Basra, the road was open and good. Now we are in the centre of Karbala. By God's willing, we have not suffered from a lack of food, water or even clothes. The guests (leaders of processions on the road) provided us with all the necessities.'' FEMALE PILGRIMS CRYING MALE PILGRIMS SHOUTING, CRYING OUT PILGRIMS BEATING HEADS WITH HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PILGRIM FROM KUWAIT, ADEL SHANNAN, SAYING: "The security situation is very good. Ordinary Iraqi people are keen to protect pilgrims as well as the security authorities. Both the security forces and (the ordinary) people are cooperative. Everything is going well.'' PILGRIMS BEATING CHESTS AND JUMPING PILGRIM'S FEET AS THEY BEAT CHESTS AND JUMP PILGRIMS BEATING CHESTS AND JUMPING
- Embargoed: 1st November 2019 13:22
- Keywords: Arbaeen pilgrimage Islam religion Shi'ite Iraq
- Location: KARBALA, IRAQ
- City: KARBALA, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001B1ML64N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Shi'ite Muslims gathered at the shrine of Iman Hussein in Iraq's holy city of Karbala on Friday (October 18) for the annual pilgrimage of Arbaeen amid heightened security.
Troops patrolled the area and conducted body and bag searches of pilgrims waiting to enter the shrine to take part in religious rituals.
A senior Iranian cleric on Friday accused the United States and Israel of stoking unrest in Iraq to disrupt the major annual Shi'ite Muslim pilgrimage, the semi-official news agency Tasnim reported.
Arbaeen marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, Imam Hussein. The climax of the pilgrimage will be held on Saturday (October 19).
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 such as crying and self-flagellation.
(Production: Haider Kadhim, Mohammed al-Ramahi, Maher Nazeh, Mohammed Katfan, Louisa Naks) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
