Iraqi Shi'ite pilgrims gather in Kerbala to mark Arbaeen

Record ID: 78022

  • Title: Iraqi Shi'ite pilgrims gather in Kerbala to mark Arbaeen
  • Date: 21st November 2016
  • Summary: KERBALA SOUTH OF BAGHDAD, IRAQ (NOVEMBER 21, 2016) (REUTERS) VIEW FROM ABOVE OF CROWDS GATHERING FOR THE FESTIVAL IN FRONT OF IMAM HUSSEIN'S SHRINE VARIOUS OF GOLDEN DOMES OF IMAM HUSSEIN'S SHRINE MORE OF PILGRIMS GATHERED IN SQUARE OUTSIDE THE IMAM HUSSEIN HOLY SHRINE SHI’ITE PILGRIMS PERFORMING RITUALS OF COMMEMORATION MORE OF SHI’ITE PILGRIMS INSIDE HOLY SHRINE OF IMAM HUSSEIN
  • Embargoed: 6th December 2016 12:36
  • Keywords: Religion Shiiite Iraq Kerbala Arnaeen festival
  • Location: KERBALA SOUTH OF BAGHDAD , IRAQ
  • City: KERBALA SOUTH OF BAGHDAD , IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA00159E1747
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Shi'ite Muslims on Monday (November 21) marked the end of a 40-day mourning period commemorating the death of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussein.
    The commemoration reached its climax after pilgrims gathered in Kerbala for what is known as the Arbaeen festival. The pilgrims visited the holy shrine of Imam Hussein and paid respects patting their heads with their hands in an outpouring of grief for Hussein's martyrdom.
    Many of the pilgrims made the 80 kilometre (50 mile) journey on foot from Baghdad and other provinces, escorted by armoured vehicles, soldiers and ambulances.
    Last Monday (November 14) a suicide bomber killed six people near Kerbala at the start of the festival, an attack claimed by the hardline Sunni militants of Islamic State.
    The hardline Sunni Islamic State said in a statement it had planned to target Shi'ites, police and army personnel. IS regard Shi'ite Muslims as apostates and frequently attack Shi'ite mosques and gatherings.
    Undeterred by the IS threat, huge crowds of Shi'ite pilgrims visit the shrines of Hussein and his half-brother Abbas in Kerbala, where they were killed in the 7th century AD, in a revolt against the Umayyad ruler Yazeed.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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