U.S. Report Highlights Shiite Resilience and Spiritual Centrality of Iraq’s Holy Shrines

U.S. Report Highlights Shiite Resilience and Spiritual Centrality of Iraq’s Holy Shrines
—————————
A report published by the Chicago Sun-Times has highlighted the resilience of Iraq’s Shiite community and the deep spiritual significance of the country’s holy shrines, drawing on an educational visit by an American delegation to Iraq.

The article, written by Rummana Hussain, head of the newspaper’s opinion section, documents a trip by a 33-member U.S. group that visited Baghdad, Najaf and Karbala. The visit was organized by Ferial Salem, an associate professor of Arab and Islamic studies at the American Islamic College.

Hussain noted that participants had faced repeated warnings about traveling to Iraq, but said the experience challenged common stereotypes portrayed in Western media and revealed a more humane and welcoming reality.

The journey began at the historic Mustansiriya School in Baghdad, where the report highlighted Iraq’s centuries-old architectural heritage. In Najaf and Karbala, the delegation visited major Shiite shrines, including the shrine of Imam Ali and the shrines of Imam Hussein and Abbas ibn Ali (peace be upon them all), describing the large pilgrim crowds as a powerful expression of spiritual steadfastness and cultural identity.

The report also observed Iraq’s urban development alongside daily challenges such as electricity shortages, concluding that the visit reshaped participants’ perceptions of Iraq and underscored the enduring role of holy shrines in the country’s social and religious life.