Why Shiite pilgrimage to Karbala had special meaning this year
For Iraq, guaranteeing the safety of millions of Shiite faithful on their annual pilgrimage to the shrine of a revered saint in Karbala has always been a monumental challenge.
The march, the largest annual religious pilgrimage on earth, is in defiance of Iraq’s chronic insecurity and the frequent attempts by Sunni militants – including, recently, Islamic State (ISIS) fighters – to derail this event with violence.
This year, the pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Hussein held special resonance, as ISIS in Iraq has been all but defeated in recent months by Iraqi security forces – supported by Iran-backed
Violence no deterrentBigger than the hajjUnified by threat