Iraq issues over 1.5mn visas for Iran’s Arbaeen pilgrims

(IRNA) — Secretary of the Arbaeen Central Headquarters Majid Aqa Bababaei told IRNA that so far several offices have been established in Tehran, western province of Kermanshah, Ahvaz (southwestern province of Khuzestan) and Mashad (northeastern province of Khorasan-e Razavi).

He added that the foreign pilgrims who are keen to attend Arbaeen rituals via Iranian border points should enter Iraq via Shalamche (southwestern province of Khouzestan) border checkpoint.

Aqa Bababaei stressed that the Iranian pilgrims could enter Iraq through the Khosravi (western province of Kermanshah), Mehran (western province of Ilam), Shalamche and Chazabe (Khuzestan Province) border checkpoints to Iraq.

He also warned Iranian pilgrims not to head to the Iraqi border without a visa.

According to the Iranian officials, the number of Iranian pilgrims who are enthusiastic to attend the religious rituals of Arbaeen in Iraq would hit 2.5 million people this year. Last year two million Iranians took part in the event.

Arbaeen, falling on November 9 this year, is a Shia Muslim religious observance that occurs forty days after the Day of Ashura to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the third Imam of Shia Muslims.

It marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS).

Each year, pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located.

Last year, around 20 million pilgrims from all over the world gathered in Karbala on Arbaeen.