Thousands mark Day of Burial at Khutwa of Imam Ali Mosque in Basra

BASRA — Thousands of people from across Basra gathered in Zubair district this week to commemorate the “Day of Burial,” walking to the Khutwa of Imam Ali Mosque in an annual event that holds deep significance in Shia Islam.

The commemoration began on the night of the 12th of Muharram and continued into the 13th, with visitor numbers expected to exceed 60,000 this year, according to mosque director Ali Al-Baghdadi.

The Day of Burial, observed on the 13th of Muharram—the first month of the Islamic calendar—marks the burial of Imam Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and his companions who were martyred during the Battle of Karbala on the 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura.

The mosque opened all nine of its gates to accommodate the influx of visitors, and about 600 male and female volunteers were mobilized to assist with crowd management and support services.

A mobile hospital was established inside the mosque grounds, and a service convoy provided food and water to attendees. Authorities also set up a joint operations room, bringing together multiple service and security agencies to coordinate logistics and ensure safety.

The Basra Operations Command, local security forces, and the provincial council worked together to secure the event and maintain order.

Mohammed Hussein, a visitor, praised the organization. “The atmosphere during the Day of Burial visit at Khutwa Mosque was well organized. Services were clearly available from the moment we arrived, including water and food distribution and crowd control. Security presence helped maintain order and ease movement, especially with the large turnout from different parts of the governorate,” he told 964media.

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