Iran’s Pilgrimage and Tourism Claim Another Sacrifice

Sara.K – CNN News Agency: The buses came to a halt in the parking lot. After a long journey, passengers had finally arrived in Samarra.

But before everyone had even disembarked, a terrifying explosion occurred.

Iranians were killed and injured in the bus parking area and along the path of travelers heading to the shrines of Shiite Imams. However, the exact numbers remain unclear as of Monday morning, and it has been reported that more than 97 Iranians have been wounded in these explosions. According to the names announced, 77 of the wounded transferred to Tehran are currently hospitalized in the capital’s hospitals.

The death toll has been reported between 6 and 10 people since yesterday evening, which is not a precise figure.

It was expected that more than two million Iranians would travel to Iraq for the Arbaeen procession this year.

The Explosions Were Foreseeable

According to some Iranians who spoke with CNN, this incident was foreseeable.

Maryam is one of those who, despite her opposition to her family’s trip to Iraq, was unable to prevent the journey. She was convinced that this year’s Arbaeen ceremony would claim victims. Her family was in the shrine compound during the explosions and was unharmed, but they witnessed the terror and shock caused by this carnage.

In her conversation with CNN, she speaks of her concern for the travelers’ families and continues: “My parents went to Iraq. We were worried about them, but they kept saying that the officials were watching over us and that there is security in Iraq. Because of this, they did not take the news of war seriously and did not believe that ISIS would have any mercy on Iranian travelers.”

This compatriot wishes for her family to return before the Arbaeen ceremony, but according to her, the managers of the dispatched caravans take no responsibility for bringing passengers back before the ceremony.

Unrealistic Claims by Akhundi from Qom

News from the past week or two reflected the confidence and assurance that Iran’s pilgrimage and tourism officials were giving to passengers about traveling to Iraq.

Mohammad Saeidi, custodian of the Fatima Masumeh shrine in Qom, was one of these officials. Before sending Iranians to Iraq, he emphasized: “The existence of complete security for Husaini pilgrims during Arbaeen demonstrates that God’s grace and the Ahl al-Bayt are our supporters and guides in this arena.”

Referencing incidents that occurred during Muslims’ journey to Saudi Arabia and the deaths of some Iranians in Mina, he stressed that Saudi Arabia, due to its dependence on imperialism, cannot ensure the security of pilgrims.

But these same officials have remained silent in the past two days as the trip to Iraq and their promises sacrificed Arbaeen travelers.

Now Said Ohadi, head of the Pilgrimage and Tourism Organization, announces the killing and wounding of Iranians in Samarra. He emphasizes that ISIS elements resorted to this action due to their heavy defeats in Mosul.

Meanwhile, it remains unclear how these officials failed to foresee this ISIS reaction beforehand.

Our Children Are Sacrificed for Emotions

Mohammad, another compatriot concerned about his children, told CNN: “We middle-aged and elderly Iranians remember the sacrifice of teenagers during the war with Iraq, how their emotions were aroused and they were sent to war, making their families grieve. Without having any military or even mental preparation. Now officials intend to sacrifice young people’s emotions using the same tool.”

The officials’ chosen slogan for this year’s Arbaeen procession and Iranian travels, according to Mohammad, is taken from Qamar Bani Hashim on Ashura Day, meaning “I will never stop defending my religion.”

Mohammad now awaits his student sons and continues with criticism of those in charge: “If officials valued people’s lives, they should have brought all Iranians back by plane after the Samarra explosions, rather than calling the dead martyrs and sacrificing pilgrims.”

Presence at the shrines of Shiite Imams, particularly in Samarra, which belongs to extremist and non-Shiite Muslims, even under normal circumstances has its own special atmosphere. This is mixed with fear and anxiety in the current conditions of Iraq, where war and bloodshed are rampant. But few believed that this journey would be one of no return.

In any case, it is expected from our country’s officials, especially those at the forefront of decision-making, not to sacrifice the people for the benefit of operatives like the Pilgrimage and Tourism Organization or politicians. There is no doubt that the only tool these individuals have for achieving their sinister purposes is the exploitation of people’s religious beliefs. Fanning the flames of extremist and sometimes superstitious views strengthens the ground for such exploitation.

Now, to free our compatriots from these extremisms that bring death instead of life, we pray that God, who witnesses all lovelessness, grants increasing inner blessing and awareness. Amen.