HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: As hundreds of thousands of mourning devotees are making their way to the holy city of Najaf marking Demise Anniversary of Chief of Messengers, Prophet of Mercy, holy Prophet Muhammad bin Abdullah (peace be upon him and his pure progeny), security has been beefed up in this holy city.

Safar 28 marks the sorrowful occasion of Demise of Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure progeny) which falls on Friday April 8 this year.

Vice-Governor of Holy Najaf Abdul Hussein Abtan said more than 30,000 (thirty thousand) security men accompanied by thousands of volunteers have been deployed for Holy Najaf security and hundreds of thousands of mourners who are streaming here to commemorate holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure progeny)’s Demise Anniversary.

Abtan said the holy city has been blocked for traffic since Tuesday April 5; even security vehicles are allowed to move in the city with prior permission from the governor; every visitor intending to enter the holy shrine compound is bound to undergo checking procedure; cell phones as well as any kind of bags are prohibited.

It has been a practice here that to commemorate Demise Anniversary of Rahma`tol Lel Aa`lameen (Mercy for World) Prophet Muhammad Al-Mostapha (peace be upon him and his pure progeny), pilgrims descend on the city of his wassi, cousin and son-in-law Al-Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (peace be upon him).

Holding Husseini standards and chanting dirges and slogans of wela (devotion), flocks of mourning devotees are converging in Holy Najaf on foot.

Tents, pavilions and stands have been installed throughout the routes to the shrine of Master of Believers Imam Ali (peace be upon him) to facilitate honorable guests of the Best of Creatures Holy Prophet ((peace be upon him and his pure progeny).