More than 21 million Muslim pilgrims gathered in Karbala, Iraq for this year’s Arbaeen pilgrimage, which reached its peak on Sunday. The event saw attendees displaying strong support for Gaza, as tensions in the region remain high.
The Arbaeen pilgrimage in Karbala, Iraq commemorates the 40th day of mourning for Hazrat Imam Hussain, the Grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Hussain and his brother Abbas are buried in two grand mausoleums in Karbala, where pilgrims expressed their grief, mourning the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussein, who was martyred in 680 A.D. during the Battle of Karbala.
This year’s Arbaeen pilgrimage in Karbala, Iraq marked by prominent displays of Palestinian flags, as pilgrims showed solidarity with those affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Mohammed al-Tamimi, a 32-year-old pilgrim, noted that the flags symbolize support for Palestinians and a unified Muslim stance against Zionist actions and the violence in Gaza.
The institution managing the Abbas mausoleum reported a total of 21,480,525 Arbaeen pilgrims this year, including about 3.5 million Iranian pilgrims. Last year, the event attracted around 22 million attendees, with Iran providing the largest number of foreign visitors. As always, the pilgrimage took place under tight security, reflecting the significance and scale of this spiritual gathering.
