Iranian MP: Millions attending Arbaeen demonstrate failure of enemies' media campaign

Pars Today – An Iranian lawmaker said the massive turnout for the Arbaeen pilgrimage despite hostile media propaganda, reflects the unity of the Muslim community and the failure of its adversaries' media campaign.

According to Pars Today, citing Mehr News Agency, Moslem Salehi, a member of the Iranian Parliament's Social Commission, said that the Arbaeen pilgrimage is no longer merely a religious ceremony but has become a major cultural, social, and civilizational movement in the Islamic world.

He said the annual gathering of millions of pilgrims from different countries conveys a message of unity, justice-seeking, and standing against oppression to the world.

Salehi added that in recent years, hostile media outlets and opponents of Islam have used extensive propaganda and psychological operations to diminish the significance of the pilgrimage or portray it as less important. However, he said the large public participation in the Arbaeen march has served as a clear practical response to those efforts, demonstrating that people's attachment to the culture of Ashura is deeper than can be undermined by media campaigns.

Salehi said that, in his view, Iran's adversaries understand that the culture of Ashura represents dignity, independence, freedom, and resistance, and that wherever this culture spreads, it poses a serious challenge to their hegemonic ambitions. He said this is why they seek to discourage people from participating in the Arbaeen pilgrimage by spreading false information, creating negative narratives, and portraying the event as unsafe. Nevertheless, he added, the number of pilgrims continues to grow each year rather than decline.

Describing Arbaeen as a manifestation of the Islamic world's social capital, Salehi said the participation of people from all walks of life—including the elderly, youth, women, children, and intellectuals—alongside volunteer-run service camps (mawkibs) demonstrates the strong capacity for social participation within Islamic culture. He said this social capital is one of the greatest strengths of Muslim nations and can serve as a source of inspiration in many cultural and social fields.

The lawmaker, who represents the city of Eqlid in the Iranian Parliament, also said that one of the most important messages of the Arbaeen pilgrimage is the unity of the Muslim community. He noted that pilgrims from dozens of countries, speaking different languages and representing diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, gather around their shared devotion to the Prophet's household, adding that this solidarity presents a genuine image of the Muslim community and helps counter efforts aimed at creating division.