Tight security as pilgrims travel to shrine of Imam al-Kazim

(12 May 2015) IRAQ PILGRIMAGE SOURCE: AP TELEVISION RESTRICTIONS: MIDDLE EAST EXTRA CLIENTS ONLY LENGTH: 1:01 AP Television Baghdad, Iraq - 12 May 2015 1. Wide of street as Shiite pilgrims walk to the Holly Shrine of Imam Mousa al-Kazim, carrying religious green banners 2. Mid of pilgrims 3. Wide of street 4. Boy walking with green banner, other pilgrims behind him 5. Close of feet 6. Various of Iraqi police searching pilgrims 7. Mid of Iraqi policeman carrying gun 8. Mid of police searching pilgrims 9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Sabri Risem, Pilgrim: "We are on our way to visit the holy shrine of Imam al-Kazim, we challenge IS and their car bombs, we are not afraid of them". 10. Wide of pilgrims walking LEADIN: Iraqis are commemorating Imam Mousa al-Kazim's death with a pilgrimage to his holy shrine. The Shiite pilgrims have travelled to his shrine in Baghdad amid heightened security. STORYLINE: Thousands of Iraqis make the journey by foot to the shrine of Imam Mousa al-Kazim. He is the seventh of the revered 12 Shiite imams. He died in a Baghdad prison in the eighth century. The religious occasion has sparked security concerns. In 2005, nearly 1,000 Shiite people died in a stampede during a procession on a bridge near the shrine and insurgents have previously staged attacks on the pilgrims. Large numbers of Iraqi security forces have been deployed along the roads leading to Kazimya to protect the travellers. "We are on our way to visit the holy shrine of Imam al-Kazim, we challenge IS and their car bombs, we are not afraid of them," says Sabri Risem, a pilgrim. The commemorations will reach their peak tomorrow (Wednesday) which is the final day of the pilgrimage. =========================================================== Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: [email protected] (ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...