Iran, Iraq officials discuss resumption of pilgrimage to holy shrines before Muharram

Iraj Masjedi, Iran’s ambassador to Iraq met with care-taker of Iraq’s Ministry of Health on the eve of the mourning month of Muharram as the Arab country has passed a bill on admitting foreign pilgrims for the occasion under special health protocols, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

The two officials discussed mutual health cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also discussed the recent decision made by the high committee of Iraq’s Ministry of Health and Environment regarding admitting pilgrims for the mourning month of Muharram which sees the highest number of pilgrims to the holy cities in Iraq.

According to the latest enactment by Iraq’s Ministry of Health and Environment foreign pilgrims are allowed to the holy cities of Karbala, Najaf, Kadhumain and Samarra if fully maintain health protocols against COVID-19.

One of the most important occasions among Shias, mourning month of Muharram and martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Shia Imam and grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is particularly marked as people head for the holy shrines in Iraq.