Speaking to Hawzah News Agency on the sidelines of the second conference honoring Arbaeen Husseini linguist missionaries, Hojatoleslam Seyyed Jafar Mousavizadeh said the initiative received an exceptional response from pilgrims across Iraq. He noted that more than 600 foreign-language-speaking missionaries were deployed across 13 major Arbaeen walking routes and 13 Iraqi provinces to provide religious guidance and respond to pilgrims’ questions.
Mousavizadeh explained that the project was carried out in cooperation with Iraqi public institutions, under the coordination of the country’s senior religious authority. “Through this joint effort, we were able to implement a major initiative by stationing missionaries along the walking routes to answer religious questions, address doubts, and accompany pilgrims, primarily in Arabic,” he said.
He added that along key routes, including Najaf–Karbala and other major pilgrimage corridors, missionaries were also available in English, Chinese, and several other international languages, ensuring access for non-Arab and non-Persian-speaking pilgrims participating in the Arbaeen march.
Referring to the objectives of the conference, Mousavizadeh said the gathering was intended to recognize and honor the efforts of the linguist missionaries who played a key role in serving pilgrims during Arbaeen. He noted that Iraqi guests were also present at the event, reflecting the spirit of cooperation between Iranian and Iraqi religious institutions.
“The purpose of today’s conference is to express gratitude and appreciation for these committed individuals who worked tirelessly to serve the pilgrims of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him),” he said.
Mousavizadeh also pointed to the unprecedented public reception of the initiative, stressing that the International Higher Complex of Seminaries maintains year-round engagement with its missionaries. He said the institution continues to monitor, support, and train them, and dispatches missionaries through a structured and specialized process to ensure high-quality performance during major religious events.
Highlighting feedback from the Iraqi side, Mousavizadeh said leaders of Iraqi processions (mawakib) strongly welcomed the presence of linguist missionaries. According to him, procession organizers have expressed interest in hosting missionaries within their mawakib so that, alongside providing hospitality to the pilgrims of Imam Hussein (AS), they can also facilitate the answering of religious questions and the clarification of doctrinal issues.
He concluded that the broad support from Iraqi procession leaders and pilgrims alike underscores the growing need for multilingual religious guidance during Arbaeen, describing the initiative as a successful model of religious service, cross-cultural engagement, and cooperation between seminaries and religious institutions in the region.
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