🏴 Husayni Mourning Around the World – 2026

🌐 30. Iraq:

Ashura International Foundation / Husayni Mourning News:

The Media Department of the Holy Alawi Shrine announced the launch of a special media initiative to record and document all mourning gatherings and Ashura programs held in the historical fabric of the holy city of Najaf and around the holy shrine of Amir al-Mu’minin Imam Ali (a.s.).

Haydar Rahim, the head of the Media Department of the Alawi Shrine, stated in an interview with the Shrine’s News Center, “This project is being implemented with the aim of preserving the valuable Husayni heritage and recording the various manifestations of traditional mourning ceremonies in Najaf—rituals that are an inseparable part of the religious, cultural, and social identity of this city.”

He added: “This media initiative encompasses all mourning gatherings located in the four quarters of the old city of Najaf, the main processions (mawkibs), the mourning rituals in the historical alleys and passageways, religious schools, markets, basements (sardabs), and the old homes of Najaf.”

Rahim emphasized: “These gatherings and rituals are not merely religious ceremonies; rather, they are a manifestation of the culture and longstanding tradition of the people of Najaf, passed down from generation to generation and holding a special place in the Ashura heritage of this city.”

He noted that for the implementation of this project, a specialized team consisting of photographers, videographers, reporters, editors, and content producers has been formed to professionally record and archive all mourning activities during the first ten days of Muharram.

The head of the Media Department of the Alawi Shrine added: “This media coverage will include the preparation of news reports, production of video documentaries, professional photography, live broadcasting of ceremonies, and moment-by-moment coverage of programs through the Alawi Shrine’s satellite channel and its affiliated digital platforms.”

Referring to the special characteristics of the Muharram ceremonies in Najaf, he said: “The atmosphere of mourning in the old city of Najaf begins from the early hours of the morning and continues until late at night, and for this reason, efforts have been made to comprehensively and accurately document all of these spiritual and popular manifestations.”

This project is being implemented within the framework of the broader programs of the Media Department of the Holy Alawi Shrine for documenting Husayni rituals and conveying the human, cultural, and spiritual message of the Ashura movement to domestic and international audiences—an initiative that, in addition to preserving the intangible Ashura heritage of Najaf, can also contribute to introducing one of the most important centers of mourning in the Islamic world to future generations.