Foreign arrivals for Arbaeen pass 4.4 million, above last year’s total

BAGHDAD — More than 4.4 million pilgrims have entered Iraq from abroad for Arbaeen, exceeding the total for the whole of last year’s pilgrimage with two days still to run, the Security Media Cell said Sunday.

Lt. Gen. Saad Maan, head of the cell, told the Iraqi News Agency that 4,465,079 foreign pilgrims had entered through all border points since the first day of Muharram, and that no security breaches had been recorded. Iraqi authorities put foreign participation at more than 4.1 million last year.

Arrivals remain heavy and movement along all routes is proceeding smoothly, Maan said, with authorities now also managing the return of pilgrims leaving Karbala. Service agencies, traffic police, civil defense teams and intelligence units are mobilized across the routes.

Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir al-Shammari, director of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and head of the pilgrimage security committee, is overseeing the plan from Karbala as numbers approach their peak, inspecting military and security units, command-and-control centers and transport areas used by pilgrims entering and leaving the governorate. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is reviewing the plans and issuing instructions to committees under the Higher Committee for Mass Pilgrimages, Maan said.

Arbaeen falls on Tuesday, the 40th day after Ashura, marking the killing of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala in 680. Millions travel to his shrine in Karbala, many walking part of the route. The World Health Organization warned last week of a serious heat risk to pilgrims, and temperatures in Karbala and Najaf reached 49°C on Sunday.