Karbala Arbaeen Draws 20 Million as Faith Meets Geopolitics
In Karbala, about 20 million Shia pilgrims attend Arbaeen, with a large Iranian presence, to mourn Imam Hussein at the Imam Hussein Shrine; the mass pilgrimage is interwoven with regional politics, notably around Iran’s leadership and perceptions of U.S. and Israeli actions, while Iraq’s Shiite-led governance and Iran’s influence are on display through processions, portraits, and prayers.
