Karbala authorities on alert for Shi’ite pilgrimage

Health and security authorities in Karbala, some 100km south-west of the capital, Baghdad, have been put on high alert in case of any major attacks during the upcoming most important religious event in the Shi’ite Muslim calendar.

The day of Ashura draws millions of pilgrims from other Iraqi provinces and beyond the country to Karbala, a holy city for Shi’ite Muslims. Because of the high levels of sectarian violence plaguing Iraq today, authorities are taking every precaution to ensure no violent incidents occur, and if they do, that they are well prepared for casualties.

“We are ready for any emergencies. More medicine and medical equipment have been brought from Baghdad and other provinces. Doctors and other health employees will be on duty round the clock," said Dr Sadiq Abdullah of Al-Hussein Hospital, the city's main hospital.

“We've reserved 50 percent of the hospital’s 410 beds for emergency cases during this very important ceremony. Two big tents have been erected with about 30 beds just next to the emergency section," Abdullah added.

Each year, millions of Shi'ite pilgrims march, chant and some flagellate themselves in ritualistic processions through Karbala and through other Shi'ite centres around the country. The processions mourn the seventh century killing of their revered martyr, Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

Hussein was murdered in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD on the day of Ashura, meaning ‘tenth’ in Arabic as it is the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Muslim calendar. Shi'ites consider him as their third Imam – after his brother Hassan ibn Ali and his father Ali ibn Abu Talib - and the rightful successor of the Prophet. Hussein's martyrdom is widely interpreted by Shi'ites as a symbol of the struggle against injustice, tyranny, and oppression.

What is Ashura?

The 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar. In 2007, it falls on 30 January. Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims commerate this day for different reasons. For Shi'ites, Ashura is the most important day in their religious calendar. It is the day in 680 AD that Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was martyred at the Battle of Karbala. Millions of Shi'ite pilgrims come to Karbala, Iraq, to perform remembrance rituals. In the past, attacks on pilgrims in Karbala blamed on Sunnis have left hundreds dead.

This year’s Ashura pilgrimage will end on 30 January.

Attacks blamed on Sunni extremists have rocked Ashura ceremonies over the past two years, killing hundreds of pilgrims. The increasing number of daily attacks in this war-ravaged country has made it very difficult for the health sector to cope with the high number of victims.

In some cases, hospitals and doctors are forced to treat the wounded in hospital corridors or gardens. Morgues cannot accommodate high numbers of dead bodies and often dead bodies are kept outside until relatives claim them.

“This year, we have asked for 10 more ambulances from the nearby provinces of Babil and Najaf, where doctors will also be ready to come here in case we need them. We have also managed to stock more disinfectants, bandages and intravenous fluids. Mobile medical teams will be roaming the streets," Abdullah said.

Furthermore, Karbala police officers have said that all roads leading to the city will be sealed off to traffic and more than 8,000 security personnel will be deployed to accompany the Ashura procession.

“There will be check points everywhere to ensure the safety of the pilgrims as motor vehicles will be banned," Abdul-Rahman Mshawi, spokesman for Karbala police, said.

sm/ar/ed