“Imam Baqir 1st International Festival kicks off in Holy Karbala

The first edition of “Imam Baqir, peace be upon him” international cultural festival has been underway since July 24 in the holy city of Karbala, Iraq.

The international festival was opened concurrent with the anniversary of the demolition of the shrines in Baqi’, the first and oldest Islamic cemetery of Medina where four Shia Imams, peace be upon them, and many other noble figures among the Companions and the Followers of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, are buried there.

The opening ceremony of the festival was attended by representatives from the custodianships of sacred sites in Iraq, as well as a number of religious, cultural and academic figures from different countries.

Muhammad Tijani Samawi, eminent Shia scholar from Tunisia, was one of the  speaker in the program who discussed the Seerah of Imam Baqir, peace be upon him, and highlighted some of the important aspects of the Imam’s life. 

A book fair has also been mounted with the participation of foreign publishers in Iraq on the sidelines of the festival.