Three arrested for vandalizing graves at Najaf cemetery

NAJAF — Police in Najaf governorate on Friday announced the arrest of three suspects accused of vandalizing several graves at the Wadi Al-Salam cemetery.

In a statement, the Najaf Police Command said, “Detachments of the Third Najaf Emergency Regiment, in cooperation with the Najaf Al-Ashraf Intelligence and Counterterrorism Directorate, arrested three suspects who vandalized some graves in Wadi Al-Salam, and the necessary legal measures were taken against them in accordance with the law.”

Najaf’s Wadi Al-Salam cemetery is one of the largest burial grounds in the world, covering more than 1,400 acres and containing over 6 million graves. It is a historic site used continuously for burials for more than 1,400 years and is located near the Imam Ali shrine, making it a major pilgrimage destination for Shia Muslims who often wish to be buried there for spiritual reasons.

In June 2025, a Najaf lawmaker urged the prime minister to strengthen security at Wadi Al-Salam, noting repeated reports of disorder and unauthorized activity at the cemetery. These incidents show a pattern of security concerns and cemetery violations reported from late 2025 back through mid-year.

Recent reports of incidents connected to cemeteries include Erbil governorate in December 2025, where 11 graves were found vandalized in the Said Maarouf Cemetery in Balashawa, following other damage at Christian graves in Hermota and sites in Sheikh Ahmad.