Iraq’s Najaf Announces Five-Day Shutdown for Arbaeen Rituals
In a statement on Monday, the Najaf Provincial Government announced that upon the order of the province's governor, all offices will be closed for five days starting on September 26, Iraqi News Agency reported.
The statement adds that the measure has been adopted so that better services can be offered to pilgrims who come to Najaf during the great Arbaeen march.
Arbaeen is annually commemorated by tens of thousands of Shia Muslims 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shia Imam. Pilgrims march towards the Iraqi city of Karbala to perform mourning rites. This year, Arbaeen falls on September 27.
Various sections of the Iraqi government and military forces, including Hashd al-Shaabi, have been mobilized to ensure the security of the event.
