Covering Minefields With Trees: Iran Starts Unusual Campaign

The campaign’s environmental purpose aimed to tackle ecological pollution and is the first of its kind in the country. Organizers hope the campaign will spread to the rest of the country.

​In conjunction with the Iranian army, event organizers planted trees on 300 hectares which previously had been mine fields during the Iran-Iraq war which lasted from 1980 to 1988. Ilam province was especially hard hit by the Iraqi air force during the conflict.

​Arba'een commemorates the Hussain’s children who after his death were marched across the desert from Karbala [central Iraq] to Shaam [Damascus, Syria]. Many children, some of whom were direct descendants of Muhammad, died of thirst and exposure along the route.

This year, more than 2 million pilgrims from Iran went into Iraq to take part in the grand ceremonies in Karbala dedicated to Arba’een.