Behind the Arbaeen Pilgrimage: A Closer Look at Religious Rituals and Regional Influence

Each year, millions of Shiite Muslims embark on the arduous pilgrimage of Arbaeen, marking the 40-day mourning period after Ashoura. This deeply religious event culminates in Karbala, Iraq, drawing vast crowds who honor Imam Hussein within sacred shrines. While these images of devotion evoke empathy and respect, they also mask a significant geopolitical reality that America cannot afford to overlook. Is Religious Devotion Becoming a Proxy for Political Influence? The scale of this pilgrimage is staggering—thousands gather not only to mourn but to reaffirm Iran’s ideological and political sway across Iraq’s Shiite population. Under the guise of spiritual solidarity, Tehran...