Arbaeen pilgrim Archives - Iran News Daily

Rouhani: Arbaeen Processions Called Off in Iran, Iraq

reporter 1222 — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 10:02:20 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – The religious processions marking Arbaeen would not be held in Iran and Iraq this year because of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday.

In comments at a meeting of the Coronavirus Fight National Headquarters, Rouhani said Iraq would not allow any pilgrims to visit the Arab country this year for the mourning rituals marking Arbaeen –the religious gathering in commemoration of the third Shiite Imam (AS).

The situation in Iraq after the outbreak of the pandemic is not good and Iran should help its neighbor, the president said.

He also made it clear that the Arbaeen processions will not be held either in Iraq or in Iran this year, stressing that the mourning rituals must observe the health protocols.

Last month, Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs Hossein Zolfaqari said Baghdad has decided to bar all foreign pilgrims from visiting Iraq for this year’s Arbaeen season in the wake of the pandemic.

Each year, millions of Shiites flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites 40 days after Ashura.

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Iran Ready to Increase Flights to Iraq for Arbaeen

reporter 1222 — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 12:27:25 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – The Civil Aviation Organization of Iran is ready to permit a rise in the number of flights to Iraq for this year’s Arbaeen season at the request of Iranian airlines, an official said.

Speaking to Iran reporters on Saturday, head of the public relations office of the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran said Iranian airlines have been given permission to operate 721 flights in this year’s Arbaeen season, during which a large crowd of people visit Iraq to pay tribute to Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shiite Imam.

Reza Ja’farzadeh said the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran was prepared to grant permission for “additional flights” during Arbaeen at the request of the airlines.

Last week, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said the number of Iranian pilgrims visiting Iraq for Arbaeen was expected to reach three million.

Arbaeen, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shiite Imam.

Every year, a huge crowd of Shiites flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.

In August, Iran and Iraq signed an agreement in Tehran to reopen the Khosravi border crossing and remove visa restrictions for Iranian Arbaeen pilgrims.

Iran and Iraq also agreed to raise the level of services and facilities for the pilgrims and enhance border security during the Arbaeen season, which will culminate in a large gathering in Karbala on October 19.

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Iran Urges Arbaeen Pilgrims to Delay Travel to Iraq over Unrest

reporter 1222 — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 13:00:32 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret about the recent unrest in Iraq, asking the Iranian Arbaeen pilgrims to postpone travelling to Iraq until the situation calms down.

In a statement on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran voiced regret over the sporadic unrest that has broken out in a number of Iraqi cities in recent days. Due to this situation the authorities has asked Arbaeen Pilgrims to postpone their travel to the country.

The Foreign Ministry also expressed confidence that the Iraqi government and nation will take action in cooperation with all groups, parties and characters, particularly the Shiite religious authorities and other religious and political leaders, in order to soothe the current unrest and will not allow the continuation of the activities which are to the detriment of the Iraqi nation and which allow the aliens to take advantage of the situation.

The Foreign Ministry further highlighted the significance of the magnificent Arbaeen congregation in commemoration of Imam Hussein (PBUH), and asked the Iranian travelers to postpone their trips to Iraq until the situation in the Arab country is alleviated, and also to heed the warnings from the political and security officials in charge of handling the Arbaeen event.

The death toll in three days of anti-government protests in Iraq has risen to 20 with hundreds more injured as the government has imposed curfew in several cities.

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