Despite Mideast wars, 20 million gather in Iraq for Shia pilgrimage
Approximately 20 million Shia pilgrims have gathered in Karbala, Iraq, for the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage. This year's event is marked by heightened political tension following the death of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Why it matters
The pilgrimage serves as a massive display of Shia religious identity and political solidarity, reflecting the complex geopolitical influence Iran maintains within Iraq.
KARBALA, IRAQ – In the holy city of Karbala during the commemoration of Arbaeen, the story of the killing of Imam Hussein 1,400 years ago, resonates down through the centuries. It's in the plastic containers of cold water handed to sweltering pilgrims, not just for hydration but in remembrance of the water denied to the Imam and his followers before they were killed by a powerful army.
For many of the 20 million pilgrims attending this year, the killing this year of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and his family by Israel and the United States is a thundering echo of grave injustice against the Shia Muslims. Iran said more than three million of its pilgrims attended Arbaeen ceremonies in Karbala.
Some, like Maryam Ghanbari, showed their devotion by walking 200 miles from the Iranian border.
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