What draws Shia Muslims to an insecure pilgrimage? The Iranian journey to Arbaeen, Iraq during the presence of ISIS

In 2014, when Islamic State (ISIS) forces were still in power in some regions of Iraq, almost two million Iranian pilgrims headed into Iraq and joined Arbaeen religious procession which is one of the world's biggest annual pilgrimages. Most people who embark on the journey stream toward Karbala...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of tourism and cultural change Vol. 19; no. 5; pp. 606 - 627
Main Authors Nikjoo, Adel, Razavizadeh, Neda, Di Giovine, Michael A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Abingdon Routledge 03.09.2021
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
Arbaeen
Ethnographic research
ISIS
Islam
Materialism
Muslims
perceived risk
Pilgrimage
Pilgrimages
Pilgrims
Psychological aspects
religious tourism
Shia Muslims
Suffering
Suspension
Iraq
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Summary:In 2014, when Islamic State (ISIS) forces were still in power in some regions of Iraq, almost two million Iranian pilgrims headed into Iraq and joined Arbaeen religious procession which is one of the world's biggest annual pilgrimages. Most people who embark on the journey stream toward Karbala on foot. While this takes the common form of pilgrimage-as-suffering, traveling into a region threatened to be attacked by ISIS was an extreme risk. Based on ethnographic research including participant observation during the pilgrimage, this paper argues that three phenomena occur that attract Arbaeen pilgrims to such a dangerous and insecure pilgrimage: a) the suspension of materialism by pilgrims; b) redemptive suffering; 3) psychological effects of mass gatherings.
ISSN:1476-6825
1747-7654
DOI:10.1080/14766825.2020.1797062