Iran
Iranian Shiite pilgrims arrive in Erbil on their way towards Karbala on September 10, 2022. Photo: Safin Hamid/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The bodies of the Iranian pilgrims that were killed in a car crash in Iraq’s central province of Babil will be sent back to Iran for identification, an official said on Sunday.
A minivan carrying Iranian pilgrims in Babil exploded after colliding with a fuel truck, killing at least 11 passengers, including the driver who was Iraqi, spokesperson for the province’s police department, Adil Husseini, told Rudaw.
The bodies could not be identified due to the severity of the fire that erupted after the cars crashed and the seriousness of the incident, Majid Mirahmadi, Iran’s deputy interior minister, told the semi-official Mehr News Agency.
Mirahmadi added that the bodies were to return to Iran for DNA identification.
Car accidents are a common occurrence in Iraq where years of war, neglect, and corruption have brutally affected its infrastructure.
Millions of Shiite followers from around the world annually embark upon a journey towards Iraq’s holy city of Karbala, to attend the Arbaeen pilgrimage, a Shiite ritual marking the end of a 40-day mourning period for the death of the Shiite leader and grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, Imam Hussein, in 680 AD.
The safety of the pilgrims due to their sheer mass has been brought into question in the last few days, with relevant Iraqi authorities reiterating that several security measures have been taken to ensure the safe passage of the visitors on their way to Karbala.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the hospitality of the Iraqi people and government, praising the efforts of Iraq’s executive, health, and military services in meeting the needs of the Iranian pilgrims, Iranian state media reported.
The annual pilgrimage usually sees millions of Shiite Muslim worshippers from across the world, with the vast majority being Iraqis and Iranians.
Iran predicts that between 3 to 5 million Iranian pilgrims will visit Karbala this year, Iranian Press TV reported Friday.
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