Iran Police to Step Up Border Control for Arbaeen Security
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Police will ensure security of the pilgrims planning to travel to Iraq for the Arbaeen mourning ceremony later this month by deploying 30,000 forces to the western border crossings, the Police commander said.
In a meeting with a top cleric in the city of Qom on Sunday, Brigadier General Hossein Ashtari said more than 30,000 Police forces will be stationed at three border crossings with Iraq to handle the security measures during Arbaeen season.
Arbaeen, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shiite Imam, Imam Hussein (AS).
Each year, a huge crowd of Shiites flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.
Iranian pilgrims travelling to Iraq by land can choose from three border crossings, Shalamcheh, Chazzabeh and Mehran.
This year’s Arbaeen falls on October 30.