- Title: Masses gather in Iraq's Kerbala for Arbaeen pilgrimage
- Date: 28th September 2021
- Summary: KERBALA, IRAQ (SEPTEMBER 28, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SHI'ITES WALKING IN IMAM ABBAS SHRINE AND RECITING RELIGIOUS CHANTS VARIOUS OF MEN HITTING THEIR CHESTS TO SOUND OF RELIGIOUS CHANTS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRANIAN PILGRIM, HAMID MUQADDAM, SAYING: "Last year we were prevented from performing the pilgrimage. But now thank God it was granted to us. It's been about two years that we did not perform the pilgrimage because of the spread of the coronavirus. But God now bestowed on us the opportunity to visit Imam Hussein ('s shrine), and this is a blessing from God." VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS INSIDE IMAM ABBAS SHRINE, WALKING AND CHANTING TO SOUND OF RELIGIOUS CHANTS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRANIAN PILGRIM, HAMID MUQADDAM, SAYING: "When the Iraqis opened the border, we came full of passion. And thank God, all services are provided, health services, security is in place to serve pilgrims." SECURITY FORCES WATCHING PILGRIMS WALKING BY VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS BEING CHECKED BY SECURITY FORCES AS THEY ENTER IMAM HUSSEIN SHRINE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SPOKESPERSON FOR KERBALA'S POLICE, AHSAN YOUSEF, SAYING: "More than 30,000 volunteers are participating, including dealing with security equipment and intelligence gathering. There was support as well from the Popular Mobilisation Forces and the two shrines to design a plan for the pilgrimage for Imam Hussein, may peace be upon him." VARIOUS OF OVERVIEW OF CROWDS IN FRONT OF IMAM HUSSEIN SHRINE
- Embargoed: 12th October 2021 13:01
- Keywords: Arbaeen Imam Hussein Iraq Kerbala Pilgrimage Shi'ites
- Location: KERBALA, IRAQ
- City: KERBALA, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Middle East,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001EWMX007
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Masses gathered in Kerbala on Tuesday (September 28) for the religious pilgrimage of Arbaeen and visited the shrines of Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas.
In a normal year, up to 20 million mostly Shi'ite Muslims take part in the Arbaeen pilgrimage in the holy city of Kerbala to commemorate Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, who was slain in battle in 680 by the Muslim Caliph of the day.
In 2020 and due to the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis, authorities had barred entry to most foreign pilgrims, including some three million Iranians.
"Last year we were prevented from performing the pilgrimage. But now thank God, it was granted to us", an Iranian pilgrim, Hamid Muqaddam said in Kerbala.
This year, Iraqi authorities allowed a limited number of pilgrims from abroad to enter Iraq and attend Arbaeen.
On Monday (September 27), Iraqi authorities recorded 2,447 new cases of coronavirus infection and 32 deaths.
(Production: Ahmed Saeed, Maher Nazeh, Charlotte Bruneau) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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