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Walking allows pilgrims to feel the suffering of Imam Hussein's family, who walked from Damascus to Karbala, says Abbas Kadhim, director of the Atlantic Council's Iraq Initiative. Reuters
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Iraqi and Iranian Shiite pilgrims walk from Najaf to Karbala to take part in the Arbaeen religious festival. AFP
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Shiite pilgrims wait at a train a station in the southern Iraqi port city of Basra as they head to Karbala to mark the Arbaeen religious festival. AFP
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A policeman stands guard as Shiite pilgrims march from Iraq's capital Baghdad on their way to Karbala. AFP
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Iraqi policemen check Shiite pilgrims as they make their way to the tomb of Imam Hussain in Baghdad. EPA
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Iraqi Shiite pilgrims make their way to the tomb of Imam Hussain in Baghdad. EPA
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Iranian Shiite pilgrims march to Karbala, from the Iraq city of Najaf, to observe Arbaeen. AFP
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An Iranian pilgrim prays as others rest in Arbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, before continuing their journey towards Karbala. AFP
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Shiite pilgrims aboard a train in Basra as they head to Karbala to mark Arbaeen. AFP
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Shiite pilgrims march from Baghdad to Karbala. AFP
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Iranian Shiite pilgrims cross the border into Iraq as they head to Karbala to attend Arbaeen. EPA
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During the walk, pilgrims are met by volunteers who have set up tents along the roads to distribute free food and drinks and offer places for them to rest. EPA
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Walking allows pilgrims to feel the suffering of Imam Hussein's family, who walked from Damascus to Karbala, says Abbas Kadhim, director of the Atlantic Council's Iraq Initiative. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XCUW2HWIUJLIVSNNKP2CERJ2UM.jpg?smart=true&auth=9b1219786956cd42190083e88aeee0321872bdf60071b900087fbb4e2b9734a2&width=400&height=225)
Iraqi and Iranian Shiite pilgrims walk from Najaf to Karbala to take part in the Arbaeen religious festival. AFP
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Shiite pilgrims wait at a train a station in the southern Iraqi port city of Basra as they head to Karbala to mark the Arbaeen religious festival. AFP
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A policeman stands guard as Shiite pilgrims march from Iraq's capital Baghdad on their way to Karbala. AFP
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Iraqi policemen check Shiite pilgrims as they make their way to the tomb of Imam Hussain in Baghdad. EPA
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Iraqi Shiite pilgrims make their way to the tomb of Imam Hussain in Baghdad. EPA
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Iranian Shiite pilgrims march to Karbala, from the Iraq city of Najaf, to observe Arbaeen. AFP
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An Iranian pilgrim prays as others rest in Arbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, before continuing their journey towards Karbala. AFP
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Shiite pilgrims aboard a train in Basra as they head to Karbala to mark Arbaeen. AFP
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Shiite pilgrims march from Baghdad to Karbala. AFP
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Iranian Shiite pilgrims cross the border into Iraq as they head to Karbala to attend Arbaeen. EPA
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During the walk, pilgrims are met by volunteers who have set up tents along the roads to distribute free food and drinks and offer places for them to rest. EPA
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Walking allows pilgrims to feel the suffering of Imam Hussein's family, who walked from Damascus to Karbala, says Abbas Kadhim, director of the Atlantic Council's Iraq Initiative. Reuters