Culture Minister says foreign media closing eyes to epic of Arbaeen

Tehran, Nov 19, IRNA – Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Reza Salehi Amiri said foreign media are closing eyes to the epic being created by Shia Muslims on the occasion of Arbaeen. The minister made the remarks while inspecting Chazzabeh border spot in the southwestern province of Khuzestan which borders Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of Iranian pilgrims are using Chazzabe check point to cross into Iraq for Arbaeen rituals. He said a big epic is being formed in this very important region thanks to the presence of the Iranian nation there to take part in the rituals. However, he regretted, foreign media and press are turning a blind eye to realites. The minister added this is the day when the whole world has to come to recognize the grandeur of this nation, the land and its geography. This region belongs to the Shia Imams and the holy religion of Islam with the province having always been known as a cradle of Shia faith, he added. Salehi Amiri futher said the great movement initiated by the Iranian nation towards the mausoleum of Imam Hussein (AS) is a true asset for sustaining cultural life of the Iranian society. The minister urged people of media and culture from all over the country to produce pieces on the ongoing epic and represent it to the world through artistic channels. Arbaeen, falling on November 20 this year, is a Shia Muslim religious observance that occurs forty days after the Day of Ashura to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the third Imam of Shia Muslims. Each year, millions of pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located. 600 reporters and cameramen from all over the world are to cover live the Arbaeen mourning ceremony to be held in the Iraqi city of Karbala on November 20. According to Mohammad-Ali Anousheh, director of the Information Committee on Arbaeen, several websites have also been established to provide news and information about the major religious event in the cities of Karbala and Najaf. Reporters from Iran, Lebanon, Turkey, Kuwait, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Britain, Azerbaijan and the US have been sent to Iraq to cover the Arbaeen ceremony, the official added. 1378/IRNA