Rules for Conscripts Traveling Abroad for the 2025 Arbaeen Walk in Iran Announced

The security forces of Iran's Kurdistan province have detailed the conditions for leaving the country for young men with mandatory military service who wish to participate in the 2025 Arbaeen walk. In an official statement made from the city of Sine (Senendaj), the legal and administrative procedures that conscripts must fulfill to travel to Iraq were discussed. In this context, the permitted durations for young men of military age, visa procedures, and crossing rules at border gates were clarified. Authorities emphasized that the process was prepared considering both the state's security policies and religious responsibilities. Thus, it is aimed to ensure the regular and orderly participation of young men undergoing military service in this massive religious event attended by hundreds of thousands of Iranian citizens.

The Arbaeen walk is a massive organization that marks the fortieth day of the imams according to the Shia belief, and millions of people reach the city of Najaf in Iraq on foot every year. This heavy population movement from Iran to Iraq creates a significant logistical and security requirement for both countries. The Iranian administration regulates the departure of young men with military service obligations abroad with strict rules every year, but it establishes exceptional procedures for religious visits. These procedures are generally based on granting temporary exit permits and ensuring that returning conscripts definitely join their military units. The aforementioned new regulation is considered a critical step for the healthy execution of the 2025 organization.

In the statement made by the Deputy Chief of Police of Kurdistan Province, it was emphasized that great importance is given to the security of border regions and the monitoring of conscripts' statuses. Some individuals under military service have a ban on leaving the country, and these individuals must obtain special permits to participate in the Arbaeen. Authorities asked young men with travel bans to complete the necessary documents flawlessly and apply to security units in advance to obtain their temporary permits. It was stated that checks at border gates will be extremely strict, and those who do not comply with the rules will definitely be deported or turned away. Such strict measures both allow young people to fulfill their religious duties and aim not to disrupt the functioning of military law.

Mandatory military service in Iran is one of the most important state policies implemented in the country and has caused many young people to flee abroad in the past. While the state restricts the international travel of conscripts, it prefers to act flexibly in socially accepted organizations such as religious events. Massively attended events like Arbaeen both reinforce the harmony of the Iranian state with religious authorities and strengthen its cultural and political ties with Iraq. For this reason, the re-announcement of the rules for leaving the country meticulously every year is a great necessity both for ensuring internal peace and for guaranteeing border security. However, the process still operates entirely on the state's initiative and under strict security inspections.

These new rules determined for the Arbaeen walk, which will be held next year, are both on the agenda of Shiite Muslims worldwide and stand out as a regional policy. This statement by the provincial security forces provides a roadmap for thousands of young men awaiting military service to make their plans. Intensive work is expected to be carried out on highways and at border gates to ensure that these citizens, who will cross from Iran's western borders into Iraq, travel safely. The successful management of this process plays a critical role both for Iran's internal stability and for the security of the millions of visitors hosted by Iraq. Thus, while the state maintains the applicability of military laws, it also demonstrates to the international community and its own citizens that the religious feelings of its people are respected.