Hawzah News Agency - Miguel Junior Franca Chaves de Magalhaes, is the first envoy of a Latin American country to go to the mausoleum, according to the Astan (custodianship) of the holy shrine.

He, along with a number of the Astan’s officials, toured different parts of the mausoleum.

Magalhaes expressed wonder at the historical building of the shrine and the development projects underway at the mausoleum.

The holy shrine in Najaf, 160 km south of Baghdad, is one of the most sacred sites in Shia Islam.

It is visited by millions of Shia pilgrims from around the world every year.