Over 3 million Iranian pilgrims entered Iraq for Arbaeen: Official

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Over three million Iranian pilgrims have entered Iraq to attend the Arbaeen pilgrimage in the holy city of Karbala, revealed Iran’s interior minister on Tuesday, describing the visitors’ passage through the borders as “smooth”.

Ahmad Vahidi made an inspection visit to the Mehran crossing in western Iran’s Ilam province, saying that the services and hospitality on the borders have been satisfactory.

“Until now, the number of Iranians entering Iraq has surpassed three million, around 1.5 million of which have returned,” Iranian state media cited Vahidi as saying.

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.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi arrived in Karbala on Wednesday to follow up on the security situation of the pilgrims attending the rituals, as their safety has recently been brought into question due to their large numbers.

The bodies of 10 Iranian pilgrims - six men and four women - who died in a car crash in Iraq’s central province of Babil earlier this week were returned to Ilam on Tuesday and delivered to the province’s forensic autopsy hall, according to the semi-official Fars News.

Earlier in the week, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi thanked the Iraqi people and the government for their hospitality and their efforts to ensure the safe passage of the Iranian pilgrims.

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.