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Shia pilgrims flock to Karbala for Arbaeen climax | Shia pilgrims flock to Karbala for Arbaeen climax |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Huge numbers of Shia Muslim pilgrims gathered in the Iraqi city of Karbala at the climax of a key festival, despite threats of violence. | |
Iraq says up to 17 million made the pilgrimage over 40 days this year, more than a million from Iran, and many remained for the ceremony of Arbaeen. | |
Tight security aimed to prevent attacks by Islamic State (IS) and other Sunni militant groups. | |
Arbaeen commemorates the death of a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. | Arbaeen commemorates the death of a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. |
The ceremony is held to mark the death of Imam Hussain, who died in battle at Karbala. | The ceremony is held to mark the death of Imam Hussain, who died in battle at Karbala. |
He was killed in a 7th Century battle for the leadership of the Muslim world, a defining event that helped seal the schism between Sunni and Shia Muslims. | He was killed in a 7th Century battle for the leadership of the Muslim world, a defining event that helped seal the schism between Sunni and Shia Muslims. |
There have been no reports of major incidents at this year's Arbaeen. | There have been no reports of major incidents at this year's Arbaeen. |
The governor of Kerbala Akeel al-Turaihi praised the peaceful conclusion of the pilgrimage. | |
"We think that the successes of this visitation (pilgrimage) is one of the chapters of victories achieved by our armed forces and volunteers against IS" he said. | |
IS regards Shia Muslims as heretics and regularly targets them in attacks throughout Iraq. | IS regards Shia Muslims as heretics and regularly targets them in attacks throughout Iraq. |
On Friday, a mortar targeting a Shia mosque north of Baghdad killed eight people. | |
Arbaeen: Then and now | Arbaeen: Then and now |