Ahead of Arbaeen, Dozens of Iranians Detained in Iraq Without 'Valid' Passports

The Deputy Consular of the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that 36 Iranian pilgrims attending the Arbaeen ceremony, who did not have 'valid' visas and passports, were detained in Iraq on Tuesday and Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Iraqi ambassador to Iran stated that so far 1.5 million visas have been issued for Iranian pilgrims for the Arbaeen ceremony, and it is expected that for the first time, the number of visas issued for Iranians will reach three million by the day of Arbaeen. According to Tasnim News Agency, Hassan Qashqavi, the Deputy Consular of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, reported on Thursday, November 10, that only in the past 48 hours, 36 Iranian pilgrims without 'valid' visas and passports were detained in Iraq. Mr. Qashqavi announced that the Iranian embassy in Iraq is working to secure the release of these 36 individuals. He also denied rumors about the cancellation of visas by the Iraqi government for the Arbaeen ceremony, stating that 'these rumors were raised by some domestic media and are completely untrue.' The Arbaeen ceremony, which commemorates the 40th day after the martyrdom of the third Imam of Shia Muslims in Karbala, will be held this year in the last days of the current month, November. In recent weeks, Iranian Interior Ministry officials have warned about the consequences of traveling 'illegally and without a visa' to Iraq to participate in the Arbaeen ceremony. Meanwhile, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence reported on Sunday, November 9, that they had identified and arrested members of networks involved in forging Iraqi visas, warning against the 'exploitation of the emotions' of Iranian citizens ahead of the Arbaeen days. Additionally, according to Mehr News Agency, Rajeh Saber Aboud Al-Moussawi, the Iraqi ambassador to Iran, stated on Thursday that no one has the right to travel to Iraq informally and without a visa. Last year, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior criticized Iranian officials for the influx of Iranian pilgrims without visas to one of the borders, leading to clashes with border guards and damage to border barriers, and Iranian officials subsequently closed the Mehran border 'due to disorder.' At that time, a local Iraqi official told Reuters that the number of Iranians who illegally entered the country from the Zurbatiyah Mehran border had exceeded 'half a million.' Meanwhile, Mr. Qashqavi said, 'These 36 individuals thought that, like in previous years, they could travel in Iraq without a visa and valid passport, and this mistaken belief has caused problems for them.' Some political analysts have referred to the Arbaeen ceremony as a 'show of power' by the Islamic Republic. In recent years, this ceremony has seen millions of Shia pilgrims from various countries, and last year, ahead of Arbaeen, the Iranian Ministry of Interior announced that over 1.25 million visas had been issued for Iranian pilgrims wishing to attend this event. Meanwhile, the Iraqi ambassador to Iran stated, 'So far, 1.5 million visas have been issued, and it is expected that by the day of Arbaeen, the number of visas will reach three million.' He emphasized that this level of visa issuance 'is happening for the first time between the two countries.' In recent weeks, some organizations in Iran have announced the provision of facilities for Arbaeen pilgrims. According to Tehran municipality officials, sending 3,000 trash bins to Iraq, transferring 2,000 municipal staff to work in pilgrimage cities in Iraq, constructing about 200 toilets in Iranian border cities, and transporting pilgrims with 700 buses are among the actions this body will undertake for this year's Arbaeen. Meanwhile, Gholamali Nistanian, the CEO of the Iranian Student Qarz al-Hasna Fund, also announced on Tuesday, November 10, that participating students in the Arbaeen pilgrimage would receive a one-million-toman loan outside of the usual queue.