Islamic Society in Netherlands Registers Arbaeen Pilgrims
It was established by a number of young Muslims in Europe five years ago.
Since then, it registers people from all over Europe, and even elsewhere, including the US, Canada, Uruguay, and Tanzania, to send them to Karbala for Arbaeen pilgrimage.
While the number of the pilgrims sent to Iraq by the group five years ago was 40, the number rose to 1200 last year.
This year, five to six thousand pilgrims are expected to be dispatched there, including 12 young Christians.
The society’s central office is in the city of Arnhem, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It has office in all other European countries.
During the lunar Hijri month of Muharram, members of the society hand out brochures, hold exhibitions and tell people about Imam Hussein (AS) and the Ashura uprising.
They also hold Quranic, religious and cultural programs.
The society says one of its main missions is promoting unity among Muslims and other religious communities using the unique capacities of the Arbaeen.
Arbaeen, in which one of the largest religious gatherings in the world takes place, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussein (AS).
Each year, a huge crowd of Shias from around the world flock to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.
In the past few years, around 20 million pilgrims from all over the world took part in the mourning ceremonies in Karbala.
This year, Arbaeen falls on Thursday, November 9.
