Shi'ites throng Iraq shrine city for Arbaeen
Purchase this article for republication
Buy SPH photos-
Prayers beads hang waiting to be sold as Shi'ite Muslim pilgrims arrive to take part in the Arbaeen religious rituals which marks the 40th day after Ashura commemorating the seventh century killing of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussein, in the shrine city of Karbala, south-west of Iraq's capital Baghdad, on Jan 2, 2013. -- PHOTO : AFP
-
Shi'ite Muslim pilgrims take part in the Arbaeen religious rituals which marks the 40th day after Ashura commemorating the seventh century killing of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussein, in the shrine city of Karbala, south-west of Iraq's capital Baghdad, on Jan 2, 2013. -- PHOTO : AFP
-
A Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim pilgrim take part in the Arbaeen religious rituals which marks the 40th day after Ashura commemorating the seventh century killing of Prophet Mohammed's grandson, Imam Hussein, in the shrine city of Karbala, south-west of Iraq's capital Baghdad, on Jan 2, 2013. -- PHOTO : AFP
-
Shi'ite Muslim worshippers beat themselves inside the holy shrine of Imam Hussein to mark the Muslim festival of Arbaeen in Karbala, 80km south of Baghdad, Iraq, on Wednesday, Jan 2 , 2013. The holiday marks the end of the forty day mourning period after the anniversary of the 7th century martyrdom of Imam Hussein the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. -- PHOTO : AP
-
A view of the Imam Hussein shrine and Imam Abbas shrine in the city of Karbala, south-west of Iraq's capital Baghdad, as Shi'ite Muslim pilgrim gather for the Arbaeen religious rituals which marks the 40th day after Ashura commemorating the seventh century killing of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussein, on Jan 2, 2013. -- PHOTO : AFP
-
Shi'ite Muslim worshippers pray at the holy shrine of Imam Hussein during the Muslim festival of Arbaeen in Karbala, 80km south of Baghdad, Iraq, on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2013. The holiday marks the end of the forty day mourning period after the anniversary of the 7th century martyrdom of Imam Hussein the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. -- PHOTO : AP
Prayers beads hang waiting to be sold as Shi'ite Muslim pilgrims arrive to take part in the Arbaeen religious rituals which marks the 40th day after Ashura commemorating the seventh century killing of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussein, in the shrine city of Karbala, south-west of Iraq's capital Baghdad, on Jan 2, 2013. -- PHOTO : AFP
Shi'ite Muslim pilgrims take part in the Arbaeen religious rituals which marks the 40th day after Ashura commemorating the seventh century killing of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussein, in the shrine city of Karbala, south-west of Iraq's capital Baghdad, on Jan 2, 2013. -- PHOTO : AFP
A Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim pilgrim take part in the Arbaeen religious rituals which marks the 40th day after Ashura commemorating the seventh century killing of Prophet Mohammed's grandson, Imam Hussein, in the shrine city of Karbala, south-west of Iraq's capital Baghdad, on Jan 2, 2013. -- PHOTO : AFP
Shi'ite Muslim worshippers beat themselves inside the holy shrine of Imam Hussein to mark the Muslim festival of Arbaeen in Karbala, 80km south of Baghdad, Iraq, on Wednesday, Jan 2 , 2013. The holiday marks the end of the forty day mourning period after the anniversary of the 7th century martyrdom of Imam Hussein the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. -- PHOTO : AP
A view of the Imam Hussein shrine and Imam Abbas shrine in the city of Karbala, south-west of Iraq's capital Baghdad, as Shi'ite Muslim pilgrim gather for the Arbaeen religious rituals which marks the 40th day after Ashura commemorating the seventh century killing of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussein, on Jan 2, 2013. -- PHOTO : AFP
Shi'ite Muslim worshippers pray at the holy shrine of Imam Hussein during the Muslim festival of Arbaeen in Karbala, 80km south of Baghdad, Iraq, on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2013. The holiday marks the end of the forty day mourning period after the anniversary of the 7th century martyrdom of Imam Hussein the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. -- PHOTO : AP
KARBALA, Iraq (AFP) - Shi'ite pilgrims from Iraq and around the world are to throng Iraq's shrine city of Karbala on Thursday for the climax of Arbaeen mourning rituals amid tight security for fear of militant attacks.
Over the past 10 days, the annual commemoration ceremonies are expected to have drawn up to 15 million pilgrims braving the threat of deadly violence by Sunni insurgents targeting the Shi'ite community in recent weeks.
Arbaeen marks 40 days after the Ashura anniversary commemorating the slaying of Imam Hussein, one of Shi'ite Islam's most revered figures, by the armies of the caliph Yazid in 680 AD.
Sad songs blared from loudspeakers throughout the city and black flags fluttered alongside pictures of Hussein and his half-brother Imam Abbas, both of whom are buried in the city.
