20 Million Pilgrims of Arbaeen: Power Struggle and Unjust Costs

The million-strong pilgrimage of Shia Muslims from Najaf to Karbala has been ongoing for several days. Raja News, a media outlet close to conservatives, claims that 20 million people are participating in this year's Arbaeen pilgrimage in Iraq. Kayhan also dedicated its front page on December 20, 2014, to this event, stating: "Last year, some Western news outlets had to admit that the number of Arbaeen pilgrims exceeded 20 million. Based on published reports, this figure is likely to surpass 20 million again this year." (Kayhan translated and published an article by a cleric in the Huffington Post to prove the importance of the issue). Fars News Agency reported that the Iraqi Defense Minister stated that by Thursday, December 20, 2014, 16 million Iraqi and foreign pilgrims had entered Karbala. According to Tasnim News Agency, by Friday, the number of foreign and domestic pilgrims reached 19 million. Based on Fars reports, as of Wednesday night, 1.2 million Iranian pilgrims had entered Iraq, and it is expected that their number will increase to two million by Arbaeen. Half a million of these entered Iraq through the Khuzestan borders. The head of the traffic police stated: "This year's population is expected to be three times that of last year." He announced that 31,000 rescue and police forces would be providing services to Iranian pilgrims returning from Karbala in the form of 7,000 teams. Additionally, to organize the return of pilgrims, which begins late Saturday, 4,500 buses have been planned at the borders. The pilgrimage route starts from Najaf and ends in Karbala, spanning 80 kilometers. It is said that the pilgrimage lasts about two nights and three days. All streetlight poles along the route are numbered from 1 to 1460, with each spaced 50 meters apart. Tasnim, a news agency close to conservatives, reported that on Wednesday, December 19, a congregational prayer of 30 kilometers was held along the same route. The Iraqi army and security forces are present along the entire route, responsible for the protection of the pilgrims. Reflections on the Million-Pilgrim Arbaeen: Regarding this significant event, at least a few points can be raised: First - The 20 Million Pilgrimage: Ayatollah Khomeini had a special affinity for the number 20. He issued a command to form a 20 million army/basij. He said, "If this war (the Iran-Iraq war) lasts 20 years, we will stand until the end." His followers feel obligated to continue this path and speak of a 20 million pilgrimage. To the extent that I understand, the 80-kilometer road from Najaf to Karbala cannot accommodate 20 million people. The small city of Karbala also cannot host 16 or 20 million guest pilgrims, in addition to its residents. To the extent that I understand, neither the U.S. Army nor even the former Soviet Army had the capability to accommodate and host 20 million people in just a few days. According to the United Nations, which usually provides the lowest statistics cautiously, in the first 11 months of 2014, 12,000 people were killed, 22,000 injured, and hundreds of thousands displaced in Iraq. Iraq remains plagued by ISIS/al-Qaeda, and there is no clear prospect for liberation from this terrorist group. In this context, Shia Muslims have miraculously gathered 20 million pilgrims and met all their needs. Second - The Power Struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia: It has been a long time since everyone has openly spoken of the power struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran. (Refer to the article "The Regional Power Struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran"). Power display and reducing the rival's power are part of this power struggle. According to Thomas Friedman in the October 14, 2014, New York Times, Saudi Arabia is relentlessly increasing oil production to strike at Russia and Iran, perhaps hoping to repeat the story of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Oil prices have dropped from $120 to about $60. This means a loss of 50% of oil revenues. The repressive regimes of Iran and Saudi Arabia are also at war over Islam. The entirely familial regime of Al Saud considers itself the servant of the two holy shrines and, with hundreds of billions of dollars in saved oil revenues, seeks to take the leadership of the Islamic world. The Islamic Republic also considers itself the only existing Islamic government and, according to Ayatollah Khamenei, its "strategic depth" includes Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Palestine, and other Muslim countries. The Hajj has been the most important gathering of Muslims throughout history, with all sects of Muslims participating in this religious ceremony every year. However, it is clear that Saudi Arabia has politically exploited this event. It seems that it gains political legitimacy through serving Muslims during these times. Ayatollah Khomeini also constructed the Hajj as a "political/religious" gathering by announcing the holding of ceremonies of disavowal from polytheists, i.e., anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans, from the beginning of the revolution. According to official Saudi reports, the number of pilgrims in 2014 was 2,101,000. The Hajj gathered about two million Muslims, but at the Arbaeen pilgrimage, 20 million Shia are present. In other words, a population ten times that of those present at the obligatory Hajj. There, Saudi Arabia prevents the expression of anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans, but here, there is no obstacle to such slogans. According to the Tabnak website, a group of students and youth along the pilgrimage route burned the American flag and shouted "Death to America." This is also part of the power struggle. For example, Seyyed Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Parliament, stated on December 20, 2014, about the Arbaeen pilgrimage: "The day of Arbaeen is the day of Shia maneuvering, and on this great day, mourning processions must showcase the grandeur of Arbaeen to the world... This is a great opportunity to introduce the values of the Ashura school to the world, and certainly broadcasting images of millions of mourning pilgrims can prove the greatness and power of Shia to the world... The terrorist group ISIS seeks to undermine the foundations and teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt, and certainly the massive presence of mourning pilgrims in Karbala will instill fear and terror in ISIS and will affect the course of the war in this country." Third - Power and Religious Discourse: Power shapes discourse. Religion is also a social institution that has been constructed throughout history. The Islam that currently exists in the Islamic Republic is not the same Islam that entered Iran. None of today's Muslims follow the Islam of the early days and cannot do so. Because religion is constructed and reformed in accordance with social developments throughout history. In other words, religion is adjusted and constructed in line with scientific, political, economic, cultural, and military growth. Political power also plays a fundamental role in the construction of religion. The 20 million Shia pilgrimage to Karbala is one of these instances. Although historically, individuals have walked to visit Karbala, the fall of Saddam Hussein by the Americans, the rise of Shia power, and other regional developments have caused this previously marginal movement to become central and a pillar of Shia identity. Ayatollah Khamenei has been a strong supporter of the Arbaeen pilgrimage and has established a center for it. When the Arbaeen pilgrimage became a pillar of Shia identity, opposing it would also be considered an insult to sacred matters and an innovation. You may not believe it, but one of the government’s religious authorities has sounded the trumpet for it. Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi stated on December 19, 2014, that Islam (the principles of religion, branches of religion, religious ethics) is now under threat globally through media. "Religious narratives emphasize that if innovations appear, it is obligatory for religious scholars to manifest their knowledge and defend the religion." He then addressed the pilgrimage of Shia mourners in Iraq, saying: "The mourners of Imam Hussain from Najaf and other places are walking towards Karbala, creating an extraordinary uproar, and this must be preserved. We must be careful not to let anyone undermine this grandeur and glory with their innovations and rare programs." Fourth - Resistant Economy and Exorbitant Costs: According to the U.S. Treasury Secretary and Joe Biden, the Vice President of the United States, the U.S. has imposed the most severe sanctions ever against Iran. Since the beginning of the new round of economic sanctions aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear program, the size of Iran's economy has shrunk by 8.6 percent. Economic growth in 2012 reached negative 6.8. Unemployment, inflation, and poverty have increased significantly. Iran cannot even utilize its drastically reduced oil revenues. In this context, Ayatollah Khamenei has proposed "resistant economy" as a plan to counter the sanctions and promote the country's economic growth. Let's assume there is a clear and precise plan called "resistant economy" that can withstand the largest sanctions in history. "Severe savings" must be one of the pillars of this plan. This means that every cent spent must be done with care and planning. It is said that the exceptional trip to participate in the Arbaeen pilgrimage is very low-cost because accommodation and food for the pilgrims are provided by local people. Not entering into a dispute over the validity of this claim, let’s assume in the most ideal conditions that the total cost for each pilgrim is one hundred dollars. a. According to the claim, 1.3 million to two million Iranians are present at this event. Thus, at least between 130 million to 200 million dollars of the country's income will be transferred to Iraq. b. The Tehran Municipality has long agreed to assist the Karbala Municipality in cleaning the city during this event. For this purpose, 3,000 volunteers from the Tehran Municipality have been dispatched to Karbala since December 4. What is the cost of these forces and their work? Is it being paid by the Tehran Municipality? c. The cultural-social deputy of the Tehran Municipality stated that the Basij organization of the municipality has been stationed in Iraq along two routes from Hilla to Karbala and Najaf to Karbala, and four service stations have been established along the Najaf to Karbala route and in the city of Karbala. These stations can each accommodate up to six thousand people daily and are equipped with facilities such as free internet, toilets, blankets, showers, heating appliances, etc. According to him, the Healthy City Company and the Iranian Red Crescent have also provided beds, ambulances for outpatient treatment, and necessary medicines. What is the cost of these activities? d. This official also stated that in coordination with domestic organizations in Iraq, advertising spaces have been provided. Posters and banners have been installed throughout the route. 700,000 headbands, brochures, and booklets have been prepared by the Hamshahri Institute, and the possibility of receiving mourning chants and audio-visual products via Bluetooth has been provided. Extensive activities have also been planned for children in the form of "Heavenly Breeze." How much has the Tehran Municipality spent on these matters? e. This official from the municipality also mentioned the allocation of over a hundred buses in the last 40 kilometers to Karbala, half of which are active 24 hours along the Najaf to Karbala route and half along the Hilla to Karbala route, with the municipality responsible for their fuel. Add this cost to the previous expenses. f. It is not only the people of Iraq who will host pilgrims as a vow. Many Iranians will also incur significant costs for this purpose, just as they do during the month of Muharram in Iran. This cost must also be calculated. For example, Mahmoud Parchabaf, the executive officer of "Mokab Hazrat Masoumeh" in Qom, stated: "Distributing Iranian food among the pilgrims is one of the programs of the Hazrat Fatemeh Masoumeh Mokab, which has been distributing 4,000 meals daily since the early days of its establishment, and today has reached 10,000 meals." In another example, an Iranian benefactor purchased 10,000 blankets for 300 million tomans and sent them to Iraq for this event. More importantly, the people of Iran have donated five billion tomans for the pilgrims of the Arbaeen ceremony. g. Certainly, other governmental institutions have also participated in this event. What is their expenditure? For example, consider three instances: First - Saeed Ohadi, head of Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, stated: "The Karbala Headquarters of Iran has provided temporary accommodation for 130,000 pilgrims in Karbala for the first time." Second - Nasser Charkhsaz, deputy of rescue operations of the Red Crescent Society, stated that 25 rescue vehicles from that organization have been dispatched to Iraq with 60 rescuers to provide medical services to pilgrims along the Najaf to Karbala route. Third - The "Iraq Shrine Reconstruction Headquarters in Iran" has also spent about 300 to 400 million tomans. h. Saudi Arabia, with a very small population, is not under sanctions and has about 740 billion dollars in foreign reserves. Saudi Arabia's income from the 2014 Hajj was eight and a half billion dollars. While Iran is expected to receive 700 million dollars monthly from its seized revenues during the seven-month extension of the temporary nuclear agreement, it has paid one billion dollars for Iranian pilgrim trips to Saudi Arabia. In other words, Saudi Arabia earns billions of dollars annually from the Hajj and Umrah, while Iran spends several billion dollars on pilgrimages to Iraq and Syria. Are these expenses not wasteful? Do the underprivileged and absolutely impoverished classes in Iran not need this money the most? Is the government not in a position where it cannot even meet the essential educational and health needs of the people? Why do religious authorities pressure the government to assist and spend in this regard?