Some 5 Million Iranians Expected to Take Part in Arbaeen March This Year

TEHRAN (IQNA) – Between four and five million Iranians are expected to take part in the annual Arabeen march in Iraq this year, an official said.

Head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society’s (IRCS) Hajj and Pilgrimage Medical Department Seyed Ali Mar’ashi, said more people are predicted to travel to Iraq from the country for the pilgrimage this year.

He also said the IRCS will set up at least 25 medical bases in Iraq to provide the pilgrims with health and medical services.

The bases and clinics of the IRCS will be set up on the road between Najaf and Karbala and IRCS teams will also be stationed at some hospitals in the Arab country, he went on to say.

On Tuesday, it was announced at a meeting between the Iranian and Iraqi interior ministers that Iraq has lifted visa restrictions for Iranians going to the Arab country via land borders.

The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.

It marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS).

Each year, pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located.

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