IFP Exclusive

Huge crowds hold annual mourning ceremony in Zanjan, western Iran

Hundreds of thousands of people have held a huge mourning ceremony in the Iranian city of Zanjan in commemoration of the martyrs of the Battle of Karbala. Iranians in their thousands have come to Zanjan from across the country to participate in the traditional ceremony.

Meanwhile, some people have travelled to Zanjan from foreign countries including Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Qatar and the Republic of Azerbaijan to take part in the mourning event. Officials have put the number of the mourners at 500,000.

The Zanjanis hold the ceremony each year on the 8th day of the month of Muharram, that is, two days before Ashoura, which is the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar.

Ashoura marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali, the third Shia Imam, and his 72 faithful companions at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE.

They were martyred at the hands of the army of Yazid ibn Muawiyah, the oppressive caliph of the time.

IFP Editorial Staff

The IFP Editorial Staff is composed of dozens of skilled journalists, news-writers, and analysts whose works are edited and published by experienced editors specialized in Iran News. The editor of each IFP Service is responsible for the report published by the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website, and can be contacted through the ways mentioned in the "IFP Editorial Staff" section.

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