As in previous years, thousands of believers and lovers of AhlulBayt (A.S.) held a large gathering on the 8th of Shawwal to mark the anniversary of the tragic demolition of the holy shrines of the Imams in al-Baqi cemetery. The protest was organized by the Public Relations Center of the Office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Sadiq Hussaini Shirazi in the holy city of Karbala.

The demonstration began in front of the shrine of Allama Ibn Fahd al-Hilli (qs), near the Bab al-Qiblah entrance to the holy shrine of Imam Hussain (A.S.), and participants then marched toward Baghdad. Once there, they gathered in front of the Saudi Embassy to raise their voices against the ongoing desecration and neglect of al-Baqi.

At the embassy, the crowd chanted slogans condemning the destruction of the sacred graves of the Imams (A.S.), while carrying flags, banners, and placards demanding the reconstruction of the revered site. The demonstrators called for urgent action from the Saudi authorities, declaring the destruction not just an assault on Islamic heritage but also a blatant insult to the beliefs of millions of Shia Muslims worldwide.

The protest was overseen by Sayyed Arif Nasrallah, head of the Public Relations Office in Karbala, and was held in cooperation with local security forces, ensuring the event proceeded in a calm and orderly manner.

Experts have described this gathering as part of an ongoing movement to revive the call for rebuilding al-Baqi and to honor the legacy of AhlulBayt (A.S.). This yearly protest, held on the 8th of Shawwal, has grown louder and more widespread with each passing year, echoing the persistent outcry against this historical tragedy.

Participants condemned the 1926 demolition by the Saudi regime and stressed that restoring the site is both a moral and religious duty of the Saudi government. They demanded immediate reconstruction of the shrines of the Imams buried in al-Baqi.

Every year, the Public Relations Office of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi facilitates the presence of thousands of faithful Iraqis in front of the Saudi Embassy in Baghdad, aiming to take a firm step toward the rebuilding of al-Baqi. This year’s protest was again held in Baghdad and covered by the Imam Hussein (A.S.) Media Group as well as various Iraqi news outlets.