Karbala court jails Isis member for life over Arbaeen attack plot

KARBALA — The Karbala Criminal Court on Sunday sentenced a member of the Islamic State group to life imprisonment, which under Iraqi law is 20 years, for planning to attack Arbaeen pilgrims this year, the Supreme Judicial Council said.

The council did not name the man. It said he promoted Isis ideology on social media and shared booklets explaining how to make explosive devices and drones for use in attacks in Karbala governorate. The statement did not identify the intended targets or say how far the plot had progressed.

The court ruled under Article 4(1) of the 2005 Anti-Terrorism Law, which carries the death penalty. It also cited Article 132 of the Penal Code, which allows a court to reduce a sentence when it finds grounds for leniency.

In early September, the same court sentenced another Isis member to 15 years in prison for planning attacks on pilgrims in Karbala and Najaf during this year’s Arbaeen. That sentence was also issued under the Anti-Terrorism Law.

In November 2025, a Karbala court sentenced 19 defendants to life over arson attacks on Husseini processions during the 2025 pilgrimage. The processions are volunteer-run stations that give pilgrims food, water and shelter. The judiciary said the group was affiliated with Isis.

About 20 million people took part in this year’s Arbaeen pilgrimage, the Imam Abbas Shrine said Aug. 4. That was the lowest turnout the shrine has reported since 2021 and down from more than 22 million in 2025.

However, foreign participation rose. The Security Media Cell said 4,465,079 pilgrims entered Iraq from abroad, above the more than 4.1 million recorded for the whole of the 2025 pilgrimage.

Arbaeen falls on the 40th day after Ashura, which marks the killing of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, at the Battle of Karbala in 680. Millions travel to his shrine in Karbala, many of them walking part of the route.