Despite Mideast wars, 20 million gather in Iraq for Shia pilgrimage

Despite Mideast wars, 20 million gather in Iraq for Shia pilgrimage

Despite wars ranging across the Middle East, more than 20 million Shia pilgrims gather in Iraq shrine city for Arbaeen festival

Iraq to distribute 1m land plots to tackle housing shortage

3 million homes needed Citizens register from September Private developers fill funding gap Iraq plans to distribute 1 million residential land plots to citizens from September as the government seeks to tackle a chronic housing shortage driven by rapid population growth and years of underinvestment. Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi, who took office in May, said land distribution in the country’s 19 governorates, except the autonomous Kurdistan regio…

Despite war and strife, millions of Shia Muslims in Iraq gather for sacred pilgrimage

August 8, 2026 Heard on All Things Considered By  Jane Arraf Rob Schmitz Michael Levitt Daniel Ofman More than 20 million Shia pilgrims flocked to a shrine city in Iraq this week, including millions of Iranians, despite the wars tearing across the Middle East. Sponsor Message Transcript ROB SCHMITZ, HOST: More than 20 million Shia pilgrims…