Ukraine in Arabic | Record number of Shiite Muslims stream to Karbala, Iraq

16.12.2014 - 00:00 #Iraq, #Shiite, #Muslims, #IS, #Arbaeen commemoration, #Imam Hussain

The crowds are so huge it is difficult to verify the figures provided by the authorities, but the governor of Karbala said it was the largest attendance ever.

KYIV/Ukraine in Arabic/ Iraqi Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi said Thursday that the number of pilgrims in the city of Karbala for the annual Arbaeen commemoration had reached a record 17.5 million this year.

Arbaeen, which marks the end of the 40-day period of mourning after the anniversary of Imam Hussein’s death, is considered one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.

Tight security aimed to prevent attacks by Islamic State (IS) and other Sunni militant groups.

Arbaeen commemorates the death of a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.

The ceremony is held to mark the death of Imam Hussain, who died in battle at Karbala.

He was killed in a 7th Century battle for the leadership of the Muslim world, a defining event that helped seal the schism between Sunni and Shia Muslims.

There have been no reports of major incidents at this year's Arbaeen.

The governor of Karbala Akeel al-Turaihi praised the peaceful conclusion of the pilgrimage.

"We think that the successes of this visitation (pilgrimage) is one of the chapters of victories achieved by our armed forces and volunteers against IS" he said.

IS regards Shia Muslims as heretics and regularly targets them in attacks throughout Iraq.

On Friday, a mortar targeting a Shia mosque north of Baghdad killed eight people.

bbc.com