Iraqi Cabinet declares July 6 public holiday for Ashura

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Cabinet has declared Sunday, July 6, a public holiday for all ministries and government institutions in observance of Ashura, one of the most significant events on the Shia Islamic calendar.

The announcement was made in a statement from the Cabinet Secretariat, which cited Article 1, Section 1(c) of Public Holidays Law No. 12 of 2024 as the legal basis for the decision.

Ashura, observed on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Shia Muslims mark the occasion with mourning rituals that often include self-flagellation with hands and chains, processions, theatrical reenactments of the Battle of Karbala, and recitations of elegies.

Imam Hussein, the son of Ali Ibn Talib and Fatima, daughter of the Prophet, was killed in 680 A.D. after defying the rule of Umayyad Caliph Yazid ibn Muawiya. His death in the Battle of Karbala is seen by Shia Muslims as a symbol of resistance to tyranny. Mourning rituals began shortly after his death, with his female relatives grieving for three days. The tradition later spread to Medina and other regions.

Iraq is home to some of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, including the shrine of Imam Ali in Najaf and the shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala. Millions of pilgrims from across Iraq and abroad travel to Karbala each year for Ashura observances, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in the country.