Iraq’s PMU Begins Special Plans for Arbaeen
Abd Ali al-Dirawi announced the start of the plans on Monday, according to the PMU’s website.
He said the plans include operations and measures to ensure security for Arbaeen pilgrims and make sure that the health protocols are fully observed.
Thirteen PMU brigades and 30,000 reserve forces are taking part in the operations, he added.
Arbaeen, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussein (AS).
Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.
However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Baghdad has decided to bar all foreign pilgrims from visiting Iraq for this year’s Arbaeen.
