Covering Minefields With Trees: Iran Starts Unusual Campaign

More than 5,000 trees were planted on former minefields that were active during the Iran-Iraq war for a campaign called “One pilgrim - one planted tree,” in the Iranian province of Ilam.

According to ISNA news agency, the campaign took place on the eve of Arba’een, a religious holiday for Shiite Muslims that coincides with a pilgrimage to the Iraqi city of Karbala, held on the fortieth day of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, grandson of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed.

The campaign’s environmental purpose aimed to tackle ecological pollution and is the first of its kind in the country. Organizers hope the campaign will spread to the rest of the country.

#نهال #نهالستان #درخت #خوی #درختکاری#گیلاس #آلبالو #هلو #شلیل #گلابی #سیب #زردآلو#Nursery #Sapling #Treehttps://t.co/iQlwGy7ufN pic.twitter.com/7iurettzjy

— آگهی90 — تبلیغات (@Agahi90) November 18, 2016

​In conjunction with the Iranian army, event organizers planted trees on 300 hectares which previously had been mine fields during the Iran-Iraq war which lasted from 1980 to 1988. Ilam province was especially hard hit by the Iraqi air force during the conflict.

#انجمن_حامى به ياد بانو #توران_ميرهادى در تمام #مدارس و #كتابخانه هاى خود #نهال میكارد

تشکل #مردم_نهاد مدرسه و کتابخانه ساز در #مناطق_محروم pic.twitter.com/nECZwz9Csf

— Tavaana توانا (@Tavaana) November 15, 2016

​Arba'een commemorates the Hussain’s children who after his death were marched across the desert from Karbala [central Iraq] to Shaam [Damascus, Syria]. Many children, some of whom were direct descendants of Muhammad, died of thirst and exposure along the route.

This year, more than 2 million pilgrims from Iran went into Iraq to take part in the grand ceremonies in Karbala dedicated to Arba’een.