Iran Closes Land Borders with Iraq, Citing Security, Health Issues for Arbaeen Pilgrims
In a statement, the Head of Iran’s Arbaeen Central Headquarters Seyed Majid Mirahmadi said that the HQ held an emergency meeting early on Friday, discussing recent developments regarding the entry of Arbaeen pilgrims into Iraq.
According to Mirahmadi, Iraq had asked the Iranian side to reduce the number of pilgrims during meetings with the Iranian officials.
Continuation of the current trend threatens the security and health of pilgrims, he said, citing the lack of required preparedness of the Iraqi side for receiving this huge number of pilgrims.
He also called on Iranians to not go to western borders and cancel their Iraq visit, adding that bus tickets to the western Iranian cities have been already canceled.
There is no problem with those pilgrims who are making this trip by air.
Mirahmadi said that borders will be closed until further notice.
According to estimates, some five million Iranians were expected to travel to Iraq to attend this year’s Arbaeen.
The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
It marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS). This year’s Arbaeen falls on September 17.
Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.
The pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to the holy city.
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