AhlulBayt News Agency

source : IRNA
Monday

13 September 2021

4:30:59 AM
1179448

Iran-Iraq border crossings closed to Arbaeen pilgrims

The spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) Rouhollah Latifi said that Iran-Iraq border crossings are closed for Arbaeen pilgrims and Iraq does not receive pilgrims on its borders.

AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) Rouhollah Latifi said that Iran-Iraq border crossings are closed for Arbaeen pilgrims and Iraq does not receive pilgrims on its borders.

Latifi said on Sunday that Iran and Iraq emphasize keeping the borders closed, so the pilgrims should not go to the borders under any conditions.

Meanwhile, recently Iraq's Supreme Health and Safety Committee convened in the presence of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and agreed to accept some 30,000 Iranian pilgrims for Arbaeen rituals.

The committee said in a statement that, in addition to 30,000 Iranian pilgrims, a total of 10,000 pilgrims will also be accepted from Arab countries and the rest of the world.

It said that the pilgrims have to travel to Iraq only through the country's international airports.

The pilgrims can travel to Iraq provided that they hold a negative COVID-19 test taken 72 hours before arrival in the country, the statement said.

Arbaeen marks the end of a 40-day mourning period following Ashura, the religious ritual that commemorates the martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) grandson and the Third Imam of Shia Muslims, Imam Hussein (PBUH) in 680. Over the past years, hundreds of thousands of Shia Muslims from around the world, including Iran, flocked to the Iraqi city of Karbala for the pilgrimage, but this year the ceremony will not be held due to the spread of coronavirus.

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