IRNA � Arbaeen religious procession, the largest congregation in the Muslim World has once again been performed in a secure and peaceful atmosphere.


Millions of Muslims from around the globe took part in the world's largest annual pilgrimage in Iraq, despite threats by Daesh, also known as ISIS, terrorist group vowing to make disruptions.

The ritual that occurs every year 40 days after the day the third Shia Imam Hussein (AS) was slain by forces loyal to the second Umayyad caliph Yazid in A.D. 680.

The long procession started from different cities and towns in Iraq, took Muslim mourners on Sunday to the city of Karbala where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located.

Despite some speculations on possible lower numbers of pilgrims attending this year's Arbaeen rituals, mainly as a result of threats by the Takfiri terrorists, the congregation of Muslims happened to be even bigger than last year's ritual and everybody was free to mourn the martyrdom of the third Shia Imam in a peaceful and secure environment.