Iran shuts borders with Iraq as millions of Shiite pilgrims arrive for Arbaeen
Iraq is struggling with the large number of Shiite pilgrims, at least 5 million — mostly from Iran — who entered Iraq over the last few days to attend the Arbaeen ceremony.
Millions of Shiite pilgrims are coming to Iraq to participate in the Shiite religious observance of Arbaeen. While many have been traveling by land, using Iran-Iraq border crossings, these were shut today due to control the surge in inflows.
The holy day, which begins next Friday evening and lasts through Saturday evening, commemorates the 40th day after the Day of Ashura, the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
This is the first year since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic that Shiite pilgrims can enter Iraq in large numbers and without restrictions.
About 5 million pilgrims have entered Iraq so far, and the number is rising significantly according to a source from Iraq's border authority.
