Writer on social affairs Abbas Alhusainy told Al-Monitor that these religious pilgrimages have turned into an “occasion to waste money and energy and disrupt public life, because they are not organized and are easily infiltrated by terrorist groups.”
Alhusainy called for the adoption of “a civilized approach when governing these events, and for the rhetoric to be [appropriate] to the critical security and political situation in Iraq.”
Abbas al-Mousawe, a political analyst and media adviser to former prime minister and current Vice President Nouri al-Maliki, confirmed this vision to Al-Monitor. According to him, “The identification and reduction of the religious rituals' pace is impossible, and no one is entitled to do it.” He added, “The reason why [religious rituals] are widespread is the injustice done to religious communities, particularly Shiites, pushing them to be increasingly committed to these pilgrimages.”
“I agree with the calls for good planning of the visits in terms of roads, traffic and transportation preparations, as well as official working days so that these events do not turn into a reason to disrupt the state’s activity,” Mousawe added.
Researcher Salama Salhi explained the rise of religious pilgrimages, telling Al-Monitor, “The despair surrounding the political and security situation has caused some to embrace religion and sectarianism as an identity and an alternative to the national identity.”
Iraqis get 150 holidays a year, and the overwhelming majority are religious. The Russian RT news channel indicated that Iraq tops world countries in terms of holidays. Their extreme number has made the call to govern religious pilgrimage a social, security and economic necessity.
Author Adnan al-Jazaeri told Al-Monitor that these calls are meant to “prevent terrorists such as the Islamic State from killing additional visitors. [The calls] are also an economic necessity, as it is possible to benefit from the large number of religious shrines in Iraq to activate the religious tourism sector and support the economy.”
For Iraqis of all religions and sects — such as Christians, Yazidis, Sunnis and Shiites, as well as Mandaeans — to preserve their unity and bring about civil peace, they need to take advantage of religious events to limit sectarianism among Sunnis and Shiites by calling on other communities to participate together.
Iraqis also need to refrain from raising slogans that are offensive to others' religions and promote a tolerant discourse that advocates interfaith understanding.
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