Iraq under pressure to open borders for Shiite pilgrims despite pandemic

While the Iraqi government attempts to prevent the spread of the delta variant from Iran, there is internal and external pressure to open its borders for Shiite pilgrims to visit the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf.

Hassan Al-Saeed
Hassan Al-Saeed
Iraqi Shiite Muslim pilgrims who began their march from the southern port city of al-Faw walk through Basra on their way to the holy city of Karbala ahead of the Arbaeen religious festival on Sept. 17, 2020.
Iraqi Shiite Muslim pilgrims who began their march from the southern port city of al-Faw walk through Basra on their way to the holy city of Karbala ahead of the Arbaeen religious festival on Sept. 17, 2020. Each year, pilgrims converge in large numbers to the holy Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala ahead of Arbaeen, which marks the 40th day after Ashura, commemorating the seventh-century killing of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Hussein. This year, however, Iraqi authorities prevented foreign visitors from entering Iraq to participate due to the coronavirus crisis. — HUSSEIN FALEH/AFP via Getty Images)

NAJAF, Iraq — Millions of Shiite Muslims from across the world annually gather in Karbala on Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram on the Islamic calendar, to commemorate the killing of Imam Hussein. But this year, due to pandemic restrictions similar to 2020, only a small number of pilgrims have been able to enter Iraq to attend the ceremonies in the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf.

Ashura will continue for two months. Some countries — and many Iraqi business owners — are urging the Iraqi government to open its borders to all pilgrims.

In response to Pakistan's request to facilitate visas to its Shiite citizens to enter Iraq and increase the number of visas available to them for the pilgrimage, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein during his visit to Islamabad on Aug. 11 said Iraq would soon announce a new visa policy for Shiite pilgrims addressing Pakistan's request.

Last February, the Iraqi government launched a program waiving visa entries for 36 Western countries to further attract tourism and investment. Iran has since pressed the Iraqi government to also include it in the waiver program in order to allow easier passage of its citizens to the holy sites. While in office, former Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi had waived visa fees for Iranian visitors to Iraq.

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