Iraq rejects reports of al-Qaim crossing closure
On Wednesday, Iraq's Embassy in Damascus dismissed social media claims that the al-Qaim border crossing with Syria has been shut, stressing that both passenger and commercial traffic continue.
According to the Border Ports Authority, the crossing has only seen a temporary dip in arrivals due to the Arbaeen pilgrimage. Traffic is expected to rebound once the event concludes.
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Shafaq News
14 hours ago
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Millions gather in Karbala for Arbaeen
Shafaq News – Karbala Millions of pilgrims have converged on the Iraqi city of Karbala to mark Arbaeen, the 40th day of mourning following Ashura, which commemorates the martyrdom of the third Shia Imam Hussein bin Ali, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. Earlier, Iraq's Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari announced a comprehensive security and service plan to manage the influx of visitors. He said preparations were focused not only on Karbala but also on Najaf, the main entry point for the pilgrimage, and on routes across Babil province. The plan includes reinforcing checkpoints, increasing patrols, deploying additional security units, and enhancing traffic management to keep all designated roads open. Authorities have coordinated with local governments and service departments to provide water, electricity, and public transport for pilgrims. Special measures were also introduced to reduce road congestion, with the Supreme Security Committee urging the use of public transportation to ensure safe and efficient travel. Najaf and Baghdad international airports are operating without limits to accommodate the continuous arrival of visitors from abroad. The Iraqi Red Crescent and other humanitarian organizations have established dozens of medical and rest stations along the main routes. The Iranian Red Crescent said it has deployed around 8,000 volunteers, supported by 23 helicopters, one aircraft, 150 emergency vehicles, and 58 clinics and hospitals in Najaf, Karbala, and other key locations. In addition, thousands of service tents offering free food, cold water, and rest areas have been set up along streets and roads leading to the holy city to support pilgrims during their journey. Local and international media have been covering the pilgrimage extensively, broadcasting religious recitations and scenes from the shrines of Imam Hussein and his brother Abbas. Pilgrims from across Iraq and countries such as Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, India, and Gulf states are participating, with many undertaking the 80–90 km walk from Najaf to Karbala in summer temperatures reaching 43–46 degrees Celsius. Arbaeen is regarded as one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings, symbolizing for Shia Muslims the principles of justice, sacrifice, and unity.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq rejects reports of al-Qaim crossing closure
Shafaq News — Damascus On Wednesday, Iraq's Embassy in Damascus dismissed social media claims that the al-Qaim border crossing with Syria has been shut, stressing that both passenger and commercial traffic continue. According to the Border Ports Authority, the crossing has only seen a temporary dip in arrivals due to the Arbaeen pilgrimage. Traffic is expected to rebound once the event concludes.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Shafaq News
Discover Iraq: Najaf, a city of dust and divinity
Shafaq News Welcome to Najaf — not your typical vacation brochure kind of place. There's no beach, no breeze, and frankly, not much shade. But what it lacks in palm trees, it more than makes up for in spiritual weight and timeless atmosphere. Najaf perches on a desert plateau in southern Iraq, a stone's throw west of the Euphrates River. It borders Karbala to the north and opens westward into the Arabian Desert. The landscape? Think cracked soil, burning skies, and winds that whip sand into your teeth. In the summer, Najaf doesn't just get hot — it competes with ovens. Temperatures frequently climb above 50°C, with 2024 alone seeing over 40 days of blistering heat above 48°C. Dust storms are regular guests, occasionally hitting 70 km/h. And if you're wondering about rain... well, let's just say umbrellas don't sell well here. Lake Najaf, once a vital water body, is now a memory in retreat — it has shrunk by over 60% since the 1990s, thanks to overuse and a climate that seems to conspire against farmers. But the land tells another story, too. Najaf is sacred ground. Wadi al-Salam, the 'Valley of Peace,' is the world's largest cemetery, with over 1,485 acres of tombstones, stretching to the horizon. It houses more than five million graves. Why here? Because Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad and the first Imam in Shiite Islam, is buried nearby. And for millions, resting near him is the holiest of honors. Yet the cemetery holds more than just recent memory. Wadi al-Salam is also believed to cradle the graves of ancient prophets, including Prophet Hud and Prophet Saleh, figures who appear in both Islamic and biblical traditions. By the Abbasid period, Najaf had already carved its place as a bastion of Shiite learning. During Ottoman rule, the city preserved its autonomy even while Baghdad danced to imperial tunes. In 1920, Najaf's scholars and tribes shook the British Empire with a revolt led by Ayatollah Muhammad Taqi al-Shirazi. This was not just a city of prayer; it was a city of protest. The 20th century brought repression under Saddam Hussein, when seminaries were shuttered and scholars persecuted — over 300 clerics vanished or were executed in the 1980s. However, the city endured, rising again in the 1991 Shiite uprising and, post-2003, reclaiming its spiritual stature in the new Iraq. The Sacred Pulse of the City Najaf isn't just a city, it's a living shrine. Its social structure reflects this sanctity in subtle and sometimes surprising ways. Home to over 1.3 million residents as of 2024, the city is predominantly Arab Shiite, but it doesn't stop there. You'll find Feyli Kurds, Turkmen, Iranians, and students from as far as Nigeria and Indonesia. Many internal migrants from Basra, Karbala, and Baghdad have also settled here, some for faith, others for fortune or at least the promise of it. And then there's the Hawza — the heart of Najaf's soul. An ancient seminary system, the Hawza is less an institution and more an intellectual ecosystem. Over 12,000 students from 40 countries studied here in 2024. They dive deep into jurisprudence, logic, philosophy, and theology. Some even emerge as Mujtahids — high-ranking jurists with authority to interpret religious law. However, Najaf's Hawza stands apart from its Iranian counterpart in Qom. Where Qom supports the Iranian state's model of clerical rule, Najaf preaches quietism — the idea that religion should advise, not govern. This makes Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who resides in the city, a unique figure: immensely powerful, deeply revered, yet politically hands-off. His influence helped shape modern Iraq, from guiding post-2003 elections to issuing the 2014 fatwa that mobilized millions against ISIS — all without ever running for office. Between 12-18 million pilgrims visit the Imam Ali Shrine each year. The shrine itself employs 15,000 people, further anchoring an economic web of hotels (more than 2,000), restaurants, souvenir shops, and local guides. Pilgrims walk for days just to touch the shrine's golden doors, leave a prayer, and take a photo that will sit on their wall for generations. Pilgrimage in Najaf, however, is rarely confined to its borders. Just 80 kilometers to the north lies Karbala, home to the shrine of the third Shia Imam, Hussein, son of Imam Ali and martyr of the tragic Battle of Karbala. The connection between the two cities is not only geographical but spiritual and emotional. During Muharram — especially on Ashura and Arbaeen — millions of pilgrims traverse the road between Najaf and Karbala, often on foot, in one of the largest annual peaceful gatherings in the world. In 2024, the Arbaeen pilgrimage drew over 22 million visitors, many of whom began their journey in Najaf, touching Imam Ali's tomb before continuing to Karbala. The journey binds the memory of the father and the son in one arc of devotion, grief, and hope. Complementing the Imam Ali Shrine are other historic sites that bolster the city's role as a religious destination. The Mosque of Kufa, just a short drive away, stands as one of the oldest and most significant mosques in Islam. Built in the 7th century, it is believed to be the site where Imam Ali delivered his sermons and where he was fatally struck during his prayer. Nearby, the shrines of Muslim ibn Aqeel, Hani ibn Urwa, and Al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi, all add further layers to Najaf's sacred geography, making the city and its surroundings a constellation of memory, martyrdom, and reverence. Grit, Grace, and Growing Pains Najaf wears its holiness proudly, but like all cities, it wrestles with real-world grit. The economy, while supported by pilgrimage and religious endowments (waqf), suffers from underemployment and fragility. Outside the shrine sector, job options are limited. Many residents rely on daily wages that fluctuate with the religious calendar. A pandemic or geopolitical hiccup can shut down pilgrimages and send thousands scrambling for income. On the edge of the city, agriculture hangs by a thread. Once rich with date palms, barley, and wheat, Najaf's farms now suffer from saline soils and water shortages. By 2023, agricultural output had dropped to less than 25% of historical averages. The land is tired, the rivers have shrunk, and tractors sit idle while youth dream of emigrating to Istanbul, London, or anywhere with Wi-Fi and a salary. Urban development has also boomed, but not always in the right way. Roads are battered, electricity comes and goes, while reliable water is a luxury. A 2024 municipal report showed that 62% of Najaf's neighborhoods face chronic infrastructure deficits. Meanwhile, real estate prices near the shrine have skyrocketed, while outer areas are neglected. The University of Kufa, with over 20,000 students, offers degrees in medicine, engineering, and the humanities. Women are present and ambitious, though societal expectations often press pause on their careers. Additionally, vocational schools and private institutions are growing, but many students still opt for the Hawza, trading secular success for spiritual scholarship. Culturally, Najaf is a paradox: it's rich in heritage but reserved in expression. You won't find modern art galleries or film festivals here, but you will find thousands gathered to hear a poem mourning Karbala. Religious theatres thrive, especially during Muharram, and elegiac poetry (latmiyyat) resonates through the Hussainiyat. The city's libraries even house over 32,000 rare manuscripts, many untouched by modern cataloging. Whispering Power Since 2003, Najaf's clerical leadership has nudged Iraq toward democracy, unity, and restraint. Ayatollah al-Sistani's statements, often issued through a spokesperson or carefully written communique, have had more impact than any parliamentary vote. Then there's Muqtada al-Sadr, the unpredictable cleric-populist whose base adores him but whose methods often perplex Najaf's quietist elite. In 2019, protests erupted in Najaf, culminating in the burning of the Iranian consulate. Clerics urged calm, but the message was clear: Najaf's youth want jobs, dignity, and a future. Each year, thousands of seminary students arrive from Pakistan, India, East Africa, and the Gulf. These students return as preachers, scholars, and spiritual guides, spreading Najaf's teachings to far-flung communities. In 2023 alone, over 5,000 international students were registered in the Hawza. But perhaps Najaf's most important export is its moral framework: that faith can inspire, restrain, and elevate. A lesson that, in today's world, feels more precious than ever. Najaf isn't flashy; it's not built for selfies, yet it's unforgettable. For pilgrims, it's a destination. For scholars, a sanctuary. For locals, it's just home — sometimes hard, always holy, forever theirs. And for visitors brave enough to look past the dust and into the heart of it, Najaf offers something deeper: not just history, but humanity. Not just reverence, but resilience. Not just a city, but a story. One still being written… Written and edited by Shafaq News staff.
