(10 Aug 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Diyala, Iraq – 8 August 2025
1. Various of Iranian visitors crossing into Iraq at Mundheriya border gate
2. Iranian officer observing pilgrims at crossing gate
3. Iraqi and Iranian border officers talking at the gate
4. Various of Iranians entering Iraq through border gate
5. Various of Iraqi border policemen searching pilgrims
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohammed Majid, advisor to governor of Diyala:
"The number of visitors from the Islamic Republic (of Iran) to holy Karbala since the 1st of Safar (a date in the Islamic calendar that coincides with July 26, 2025) and until now is 333,000 visitors, until this hour. There has been smooth workflow because of the availability of everything necessary, the passports, the checks. It is all done very smoothly. There is high-level cooperation between the gate administration, the security forces and government institutions. The services are provided 24 hours without any neglect, and praise be to God there are no emergency cases. There haven’t been any problems here."
7. Various of Iranian visitors at border gate
8. Various of Iraqi policemen checking passports
9. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Mohammed Hassan, Iranian visitor:
"I’m so happy I’m taking part in this global gathering for Arbaeen of (Prophet Muhammad’s grandson) Hussein in Iraq, along with all the free Muslim and Shiite souls coming here from various Muslim countries. Our goal is to deliver the message of Ashoura and Imam Hussein to the whole world, and to say that God willing we will win. The arrogance and the enemies of Muslims will be destroyed. God willing, we will see the destruction of Israel and America, the criminal."
10. Various of Iranian visitors inside Iraq
11. Various of volunteers providing free food and drinks to visitors
12. Iranian flag fluttering over the border gate
13. Various of visitors at the Iraqi side of the border
STORYLINE:
Shiite pilgrims from Iran were crossing the border into Iraq over the weekend to reach the holy city of Karbala for the annual commemoration of Arbaeen, which marks the end of the mourning period over Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussein.
Pilgrims usually flock from all around the world to honor Arbaeen on the 20th day of Safar, the second month of the Islamic lunar calendar every year, which culminates at the spot where Hussein and his half-brother Imam Abbas were killed during the Battle of Karbala.
Many view it as a reminder of the unity of the Shiite community through centuries of turmoil.
Pilgrims from Iran enter Iraq through Diyala province, before continuing their journey to Karbala.
More than 300,000 Iranian pilgrims had entered Iraq by last week, according to Mohammed Majid, an advisor to the governor of Diyala.
Pilgrims annually gather for the Arbaeen in Karbala, in what’s regarded as the largest annual public gathering in the world.
Arbaeen, Arabic for the number 40, traditionally observes the end of a mourning period.
Hussein was killed in the 680 A.D. Battle of Karbala along with his family and companions, after he refused to pledge allegiance to the Umayyad caliphate.
Hussein’s death exacerbated the schism between Islam’s two main sects, Sunni and Shiite.
It continues to this day to play a key role in shaping the identity of Shiites, who represent over 10% of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims.
The Arbaeen pilgrimage will reach its climax on Aug. 15, when pilgrims gather in Karbala to pay their respects at the shrine of Imam Hussein.
AP video shot by Ali Jabar
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