Karbala, Iraq, February 27, 2008—Pilgrims gather in the holy city of Karbala to mark the Shiite religious holiday of Arba'een.

Faithful followers make the pilgrimage to Karbala's Husayn Mosque to commemorate the death of one of Shi'a Muslims' key figures, Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, who was killed in battle in A.D. 680.

Public observance of Arba'een in Iraq was banned for many years under the rule of President Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Muslim, but the practice was made legal again in 2003.

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