16 Dead In Stampede At Iraqi Shiite Shrine – Ministry

At least 16 pilgrims died on Tuesday in a stampede at a major shrine in the Iraqi city of Karbala as they were marking the holy day of Ashura, the health ministry said.

By Rejoice Ewodage

Updated September 10, 2019

Iraqi Shiites in costumes re-enact events of Ashura in the central city of Najaf during the mourning procession on the tenth day of Muharram which marks the day of Ashura, on September 10, 2019. The day of Ashura is commemorated by Shiite Muslims worldwide and marks the climax of mourning rituals in the Islamic month of Muharram for the 7th century killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.

At least 16 pilgrims died on Tuesday in a stampede at a major shrine in the Iraqi city of Karbala as they were marking the holy day of Ashura, the health ministry said.

Another 75 people were injured at the shrine around 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of Baghdad, said spokesman Saif al-Badr, stressing that the toll was not final.

Hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims swarm Karbala every year to commemorate the death of Hussein, Prophet Mohammad’s grandson.