TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A record-breaking number of pilgrims exited Iran to visit Iraq during this year’s Arbaeen 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 Arbaeen pilgrims broke the record this year.
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 Arbaeen procession in commemoration of Imam Hussein (AS).
The commander noted that over 400,000 foreign pilgrims from 10 countries also crossed Iran this year to travel to Iraq for the Arbaeen rituals.
Arbaeen marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), in 680 AD.
The Iraqi city of Karbala, which hosts the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS), attracted 22 million pilgrims this year, Iraqi officials said.
