Hundreds of thousands of black-clad Shiite Muslim pilgrims thronged to Iraq’s revered shrine city of Karbala on Tuesday to observe a major religious event amid tight security measures.
The annual pilgrimage, known as Arbaeen, marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the killing of the 7th century grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, Imam Hussein, along with his family members and loyalists.
At the time, Imam Hussein had revolted against the Damascus-based second Umayyad caliph, Yazid bin Muawiyah, moving from Madinah to outside Karbala in modern day Iraq, where a battle took place.
Surviving family members were then taken to Damascus as prisoners.
Arbaeen occurs forty days after the day of Ashoura, when Imam Hussein was killed. It marks the return of his family to Karbala from Damascus, to bid farewell and grieve for their loved ones while on their way to Madinah.
Sitting cross-legged inside the ornately decorated plaza that surrounds the tomb, worshippers wept and beat their chests in grief as a sheikh on a podium recited the story of the return, with elegies.
Those inside scrambled to touch Imam Hussein’s sarcophagus, which is encased in engraved gold and silver. Those who reached the silver protective bar held it tight, recited prayers and broke down in tears.
Outside, different factions of Iraqi security forces, including the government-sanctioned Popular Mobilisation Forces, an umbrella group that is made up mainly of pro-Iran Shiite militias, closed off all roads leading to Karbala to protect the pilgrims. Military helicopters hovered overhead.
Sunni extremist militants often attack Shiites during their religious festivals, viewing them as heretics. But attacks have become rare over the years after the successive defeats of Al Qaeda in Iraq and later, ISIS. No attacks were reported this year.
“Thank God, the pilgrimage was wonderful and everything went well,” Iranian pilgrim Khadiga Ismael told The National over the phone from Karbala.
Ms Ismael, 50, arrived Karbala on Tuesday morning after crossing the Shalamcha border crossing in Basra. She's from Bushehr province in southern Iran and is travelling with her two daughters, two grandsons and a son-in-law.
“This is the first time to do Arbaeen pilgrimage. I feel energetic and not feeling at all tired despite my diabetes and other health problems, thanks to Imam Hussein's blessings,” she said.
“I prayed for my family as well as Iraq and Iraqis to live in peace and security,” she added.
The event usually draws millions of pilgrims from around the world to visit the gold-domed shrines of Imam Hussein and his brother Imam Abbas.
The main ritual for the event is the traditional long-walk to Karbala from different areas inside and outside of Iraq to show support for Imam Hussein’s family, who walked from Damascus to Karbala.
Volunteers set up tents along the roads to distribute free food and drinks and offer places for pilgrims to relax.
The story of Imam Hussein is deeply ingrained in the Shiite consciousness. For them, it is a story of a revolution against tyranny and the sacrifice of an extraordinary, revered figure for the sake of reform.
The event “embodies the most beautiful noble human principles of reform and peace and rejects injustice and tyranny, to live with dignity,” Iraqi President Barham Salih said during his speech at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York this month.
“Our people are determined to protect the country and to continue moving on the path of reform and fighting corruption and protecting the right to live a dignified life,” Mr Salih added.
The country’s Prime Minister, Mustafa Al Kadhimi, said of the commemoration: “The revolution of Imam Hussein is one of the most prominent historic examples of protest against human rights violations.”
“We are reminded today that confronting such violations is never an easy task, and requires more than good intentions,” Mr Al Kadhimi added — obliquely referencing the current national youth protest movement, which he claims to support.
Such gatherings have been a challenge to Iraqi health authorities struggling to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Protective measures are not observed properly, and only a minority of people wear masks.
In a bid to control the number of pilgrims, the Iraqi government prevented foreign Shiite pilgrims from entering Iraq last year.
This year, it decided to allow to 80,000 pilgrims to enter with a quota of 60,000 pilgrims for Iran and the rest from other countries.
The travellers can enter Iraq only through airports and will have to show a negative Covid test within three days of their arrival.
But the number entering through the airports of Baghdad and Najaf alone was about 100,000, according to Jihad Al Diwan, the spokesman of the Iraqi Aviation Authority.
After pressure from the Iranian government, thousands of other Iranian pilgrims were allowed to enter the country after gathering at overland border crossings.
In recent weeks, Iraq emerged from a third wave of Covid-19, with recorded cases peaking in late July.
On Monday, the country registered 2,447 new cases and 32 deaths, taking the total number of infections to 1,996,214 and fatalities to 22,948.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
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Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
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Super Bowl LIII schedule
What Super Bowl LIII
Who is playing New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams
Where Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When Sunday (start time is 3.30am on Monday UAE time)
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Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
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Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
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