Tehran, YJC. Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani praised the security levelof the Arbaeen rituals in Iraq’s Karbala on Monday.
In an address
to Iraqi Prime Minister Heydar al-Ebadi, Shamkhani appreciated efforts by the
Iraqi government, armed forces and the volunteers to maintain security over the
mourning ceremony of Arbaeen.
The Iranian official thanked the Iraqi nation for their hospitality before
Iranian pilgrims.
He further noted "The successful security plan set for the event proved that
the Iraqi nation can overcome its enemies, including the ISIL terrorist groups with
no need for help from foreign troops.”
Notwithstanding terror attempts to attack the pilgrims attending the ceremony, no
major security threat was reported during the few days that Karbala and other
holy Iraqi cities were swarming with pilgrims.
Millions of the world’s Shia Muslims commemorated Arbaeen on Saturday, the 40th
day ending of a mourning ritual which marks the martyrdom anniversary of Hussain,
the third Shia Imam and the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib.
In the main and largest event, pilgrims congregated in Iraq’s holy city of
Karbala to mourn the occasion.
Reports say
that with drawing more pilgrims each year, Arbaeen is becoming the most crowded
annual gathering in history. This year it was said that over 20 million people
attended the ritual.