Hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslims converged on Thursday in the holy city of Karbala to commemorate the climax of a major religious ritual under tight security measures.
Throngs of Shiite Muslims from across Iraq and some other countries are gathering in Karbala, some 110 km south of Baghdad to mark the Arbaeen, the end of a 40-day mourning period following the anniversary of the death of Imam al-Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, who was killed in the battle of al-Taf in Karbala in the seventh century.
The Iraqi state-run television dedicated most of its programs on the event showing processions of black-clad men, some raising green, red and black flags, marching amid hundreds of mourners flagellating themselves with chains.
Men and women beat their chests, heads and faces to mark their sorrow for the killing of Hussein.
Security measures were tight in and around the city of Karbala as more than 40,000 security members were deployed, said the city chief police Maj. Gen. Raid Shaker.
Four days ago, Shiite pilgrims used to marching on foot days earlier to the holy city of Karbala were attacked by a suicide bomber in the town of Iskandariya, some 50 km south of Baghdad, which killed up to 40 people and wounded some 60 others.
Source: Xinhua
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