IRAQ: Shi'ite pilgrims visit shrine in Kadhimiya despite spate of bomb attacks

Record ID: 352379

  • Title: IRAQ: Shi'ite pilgrims visit shrine in Kadhimiya despite spate of bomb attacks
  • Date: 17th July 2009
  • Summary: HAIFA STREET WHERE ATTACK TOOK PLACE BEING WASHED DOWN STREET CLEANERS WASHING ROAD VARIOUS OF STREET CLEANERS BLOOD DROPS ON PAVEMENT HAND CART WITH WRECKAGE ON IT PILGRIMS AND POLICE IN STREET EXTERIOR OF IBAN AL-NAFEES HOSPITAL VARIOUS OF WOUNDED ON HOSPITAL BEDS BEING WHEELED THROUGH HOSPITAL
  • Embargoed: 1st August 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA53M3Z32SDFK6M4VBD5RX7GETY
  • Story Text: Shi'ite pilgrims from all over Iraq on Thursday (July 16) continued to converge on Baghdad's district of Kadhimiya to visit a Sh'iite shrine despite a spate of bomb attacks in the city.
    The Iraqi government imposed a curfew on motorcycles from Thursday (July 16) until Sunday (July 19) morning in an attempt to avoid further violence. A number of Baghdad streets were sealed off and a large number of police deployed to provide security for the pilgrims.
    Many travelled by foot and car from across the country, especially southern Shiite provinces.
    "We sympathise with Sahib al-Zaman (Imam al-Mehdi) and the Islamic nation on this calamity, the calamity of the death of the Saint of Bani Hashim Moussa Ibn Jafar," said Shi'ite pilgrim Rissan Fahad, who walked on foot from the southern Shi'ite city of Nassiriya.
    "The trip was good and there are services and security thanks to God and thanks to the efforts of our brother, the Iraqi army," said another Shi'ite pilgrim, Abbas Jabbar.
    Ten people were wounded when a bomb exploded in central Baghdad on Thursday, targeting Shi'ite pilgrims heading to the capital's northern holy neighbourhood of Kadhimiya to commemorate the death of a Shi'ite Imam, an interior ministry source said.
    The attack took place near the Talaie Square in Haifa Street, while crowds of Shi'ite pilgrims were travelling on foot on their way to the Imam Moussa al-Kadhim shrine in northern Baghdad.
    Hundreds of thousands of Shi'ite pilgrims converge every year from Iraqi cities and Shi'ite Muslim countries, particularly Iran, on the shrine of Imam Moussa al-Kadhim, to mark the death of the seventh of the twelve Shi'ite Imams.
    The Shi'ite pilgrimage will reach a climax on Saturday (July 18).
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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