After violence scare, Iranian pilgrims resume Arbaeen in Iraq

Record ID: 1687303

  • Title: After violence scare, Iranian pilgrims resume Arbaeen in Iraq
  • Date: 31st August 2022
  • Summary: NAJAF, IRAQ (AUGUST 31, 2022) (REUTERS) PILGRIMS WALKING IN STREET VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS DISTRIBUTING TEA TO PILGRIMS MAN CARRYING LUGGAGE ENTERING HOTEL VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS AND LUGGAGE FILLING THE LOBBY OF 'HOTEL RAOF' WITH HOTEL OWNER, KARIM KHERSAN, BEHIND THE RECEPTION DESK (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OWNER OF 'HOTEL RAOF', KARIM KHERSAN, SAYING: "Of course, after the regrett
  • Embargoed: 14th September 2022 13:53
  • Keywords: Arbaeen pilgrimage Clashes Iran Iraq Najaf
  • Location: NAJAF, IRAQ
  • City: NAJAF, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Middle East
  • Reuters ID: LVA001170531082022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Shiite pilgrims trickled back to Iraq's holy city of Najaf on Wednesday (August 31) after many were prompted to leave when Iran closed its borders with Iraq following violence in the capital.
    "We are here at the time of domestic tensions," Iranian pilgrim Ali Mahmoudzadeh said in Najaf, on his way to the Shi’ite holy city of Kerbala for the annual Arbaeen ritual.
    Millions of Iranians travel to the Iraqi city of Kerbala every year for the occasion, which marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, Imam Hussein.
    Arbaeen falls on September 16-17 this year.
    Tehran had closed its borders and halted flights to Iraq amid an eruption of violence in the neighboring country following Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's announcement on Monday (August 29) that he would quit politics. 
    On Tuesday (August 30), pilgrims were seen boarding buses in Najaf to head back to Iran.
    Bookings at his hotel were all but cancelled while Iranian pilgrims already in Najaf checked out, hotel owner Karim Khersan said.
    Khersan underlined the importance of foreign pilgrims as an annual source of income during Shi'ite religious festivals amid a fragile economic situation.
    "Before, we had the (2019) protests, the coronavirus (pandemic)", Khersan said, adding that pilgrims from Iran had however started to flock back after violence ceased and Iran reopened its border.
    "We are very happy to be here, stores are open, pilgrims are shopping" Mahmoudzadeh said.
    Iran reopened its border with Iraq to travelers on Tuesday (August 30) shortly after Sadr called on his supporters to withdraw from the streets, state media reported.
    (Production: Ahmed Saeed, Charlotte Bruneau)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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