Calls to Regulate Arbaeen Visas for Afghan Pilgrims and Eliminate Unnecessary Fees

Calls to Regulate Arbaeen Visas for Afghan Pilgrims and Eliminate Unnecessary Fees
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As the Arbaeen pilgrimage season nears conclusion, the process of issuing visas and concerns over unnecessary charges have emerged as major issues for religious travel companies and Afghan pilgrims seeking to visit the holy sites in Iraq.

The concerns come after the Iraqi government announced that pilgrimage visas would be issued free of charge, prompting calls for closer oversight of the distribution process and measures to prevent intermediaries from exploiting pilgrims.

Fida Mohammad Shirzad, a member of Afghanistan’s Union of Holy Shrines, told Shia Waves Agency that the Iraqi government had allocated 15,000 completely free visas for Afghan pilgrims. He alleged, however, that some intermediaries had charged pilgrims and religious travel companies under various pretexts.

Shirzad said available documents and reports indicate that many Afghans seeking to visit the holy shrines come from low-income backgrounds and have already faced significant expenses to travel to Karbala. He argued that additional charges for visas officially declared free had placed an unnecessary financial burden on them.

He called on relevant authorities and officials to clarify the visa issuance procedures, take measures to address the issue, and ensure that any additional amounts collected are returned to pilgrims and religious travel companies.

Shirzad also said Afghan pilgrims faced administrative difficulties and delays in obtaining the necessary approvals this year, resulting in some pilgrims reaching Karbala only after Arbaeen.