Iraq: Security tightened as pilgrims pour into Karbala

Waves of Shiite pilgrims today descended on Karbala for a festival this week marking the birth of the 9th century Hidden Imam.

More than a million Shiite faithful from throughout the world were expected to converge on the Shiite holy city for the celebrations, which reach their high point late on Tuesday and early Wednesday.

The Shabaniyah festival marks the birth of Mohammed al-Mahdi, the 12th and last Shiite imam who disappeared in the 9th century.

Religious Shiites refer to al-Mahdi as the “Hidden Imam,” believing he was spared death and will return to Earth to bring peace and justice.

A woman making the 50 mile trek from Baghdad was shot dead by men in a passing car and six men were wounded in the southwest of the capital.

In the past, Sunni religious extremists, including al-Qaida in Iraq, have launched massive and deadly attacks against pilgrims during Shiite celebrations.

Last March, about 340 people were killed in a week-long wave of bombings and shootings. Most of the dead were Shiite pilgrims en route to religious ceremonies in Karbala.

To prevent a repeat, Iraqi authorities have banned motorcycles, bicycles and horse-drawn wagons from the streets of Baghdad indefinitely.

All vehicles were banned from the Karbala city centre and each pilgrim entering the district was subjected to a security pat-down by the thousands of police on duty.

Baghdad chief military spokesman Brig Gen Qassim al-Mousawial-Mousawi said US and other international troops would provide water to pilgrims along the route to Karbala. US aircraft would provide surveillance to prevent extremists from firing on the crowds.

He also said pilgrims would be forbidden to carry mobile phones, which can be used to detonate bombs, and large bags which could conceal weapons.

“These measures will provide the right basis for the success of the security plan,” al-Mousawi said. “We have taken into consideration all possible threats.”

In Karbala, police asked hotel owners not to accept guests who have no passports or residency papers as protection against Sunni extremists infiltrating the crowds.

As pilgrims began leaving Baghdad yesterday, a car bomb exploded near the city’s most important Shiite shrine, killing seven people and wounding dozens as authorities imposed new security restrictions to prevent attacks on Shiite pilgrims ahead of major religious ceremonies south of the capital.