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20 Million Shia Muslims Risk Their Lives Marching In Iraq For Arba'een

20 Million Shia Muslims Risk Their Lives Marching In Iraq For Arba'een

Brave.

Mark McGowan

Mark McGowan

Millions of Shia Muslims have marched through Iraq in celebration of a famous Muslim martyr.

Noted as one of the biggest marches in the world, masses of people made their way through the city of Karbala, in spite of ISIS (an extremest sect of Sunni Muslims) previously attacking the city.

The march was for Arba'een, the world's largest Shia annual pilgrimage which commemorates the end of a 40-day mourning period following the killing of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson.

Credit: Zakir Ali/Youtube

Between 17 million and 20 million people visited over several days, with many choosing to make the journey on foot, which means travelling near Isis-controlled areas.

Pilgrim Jaber Kadhem Khalif told the Independent: "I came walking from Basra with my wife and three sons... This is the third time. We started walking 13 days ago and reached Karbala on Sunday night."

Just last week an attack allegedly orchestrated by the Islamic State claimed six people's lives near Karbala. All this happens while Hashed al-Shaabi, a paramilitary group that has tens of thousands of men, fight on the front line against ISIS.

Featured image credit: Credit: Zakir Ali/Youtube

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Topics: ISIS