News- Middle East: More than one million Iranians have crossed the Mehran border between Iran and Iraq in recent weeks for the Arba’een mourning ceremony, the governor of the western Ilam province says.

Ahmad Karami said on Wednesday that since the beginning of the lunar calendar month of Safar (starting on July 26) to date, more than one million Iranian pilgrims have passed through the border crossing.

The Iranian official added that nearly 99,000 pilgrims had passed through the Mehran border crossing in the past few hours, with 83,000 entering Iraq and 16,000 returning to Iran.

Karami pointed to the significant rise in the traffic of pilgrims during the past recent days, stating that the Mehran border crossing remains the busiest crossing for Arba’een pilgrims, and given the infrastructure created there, the passage for pilgrims is going on smoothly.

He noted that all executive bodies stationed at the Mehran border crossing are active 24 hours a day to provide services to pilgrims, emphasizing that all necessary security measures and facilities have been provided at the site.

Karami also advised travelers to depart from the Mehran border crossing during early hours of the day and at night, given the high volume of traffic and high temperatures during the day.

Arba’een marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shia Imam, which brings together millions of people from across the world who undertake an 80-km walk between the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.

Imam Hussein (AS) and his 72 companions were martyred in the Battle of Karbala in southern Iraq in 680 AD while resisting the much larger army of the despot Umayyad ruler of the time, Yazid.

The Arbaeen Walk is the largest annual peaceful gathering that witnesses the participation of millions of people from different countries, most notably Iran. 

Observers say it is an endeavor to keep alive the movement of Karbala, which is a movement against terrorism, fascism, and despotism.

Source: Press TV