Nearly 120,000 crossings
Basra sees surge in travelers and truck traffic amid Arbaeen pilgrimage
BASRA – In the past week, 3,480 trucks from Iran entered Basra via the Shalamcheh border crossing, with traveler entries and exits totaling 119,000, an official source reported. The crossing is handling over 15,000 travelers daily, spurred by the influx of visitors from Iran for the Arbaeen pilgrimage.
Arbaeen marks the 40th day following Ashura, the day Imam Hussein ibn Ali, grandson of Prophet Muhammad and the third imam of Shia Islam, was killed. The event draws millions of Shia Muslims to Karbala, Iraq, each year, making it one of the world’s largest religious gatherings. Pilgrims visit the shrine of Hussein ibn Ali, traveling from across Iraq and neighboring countries, including Iran. This pilgrimage is a profound act of faith, symbolizing solidarity with Hussein’s ideals of justice and resistance against oppression.
“Traveler movement starts at 6 a.m. and continues until late at night, while truck movement begins at 10 a.m. and stretches into the next day,” said a source at the Shalamcheh crossing.
Last month, the Karbala Provincial Council reported that nearly six million pilgrims participated in this year’s Ashura commemorations, noting the successful management of the event and the significant attendance.
Ashura, observed on the tenth day of Muharram, the Islamic calendar’s first month, involves Shia Muslims engaging in rituals like self-flagellation to honor the sacrifices of Imam Hussein and his followers.
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