Arba'een travelers set a record: Iran Police chief

A record-breaking number of pilgrims exited Iran to visit Iraq during this year’s Arba'een season, the Iranian Police chief said.

During a visit to the Chazzabeh Border Crossing in southwest of Iran on Thursday, Commander of the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran Brigadier General Ahmadreza Radan said the number of Arba'een pilgrims broke the record this year.

According to Tasnim news agency, he said more than 4 million people left Iran through six border crossings with Iraq during the past weeks to make a pilgrimage to Karbala and attend the Arba'een procession in commemoration of Imam Hussein (PBUH).

The commander noted that over 400,000 foreign pilgrims from 10 countries also crossed Iran this year to travel to Iraq for the Arba'een rituals.

Arba'een marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny), in 680 AD.

The Iraqi city of Karbala, which hosts the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (PBUH), attracted 22 million pilgrims this year, Iraqi officials said.

ME