Most Iraqis are adhering to a week-long, state-ordered lockdown that began on March 17, aimed at containing the spread of the novel coronavirus. But these pilgrims have traveled for tens of kilometers by foot, from Karbala to Baghdad, to visit the shrine of Imam Musa Kazim, one of twelve highly revered imams in Shiite Islam. Though than 13,000 people worldwide have died after contracting the virus - including 20 Iraqis, as of March 22 - these pilgrims say they are unafraid. “Don’t dwell on it, because corona is nothing, it’s all gossip. Believe me, Iraq is safe under the watch of God and the father [Imam Ali] of Hassan and Hussein. There are Shiite doctors to cure everything. I swear by [Imam] Musa, the son of Jaafar, there is no corona,” said pilgrim Um Hussain. Some pilgrims say those infected with the virus will be cured upon visiting the shrine, and call on people from China, Italy and Iran to seek remedy here. “I ask people in China, Italy, Iran and other high-risk countries to go to the shrine of the Imam. Check them in this square after they’ve left the shrine - if they haven’t recovered, slaughter all of us,” pilgrim Um Abbas said. Reporting by Halkawt Aziz
