Tehran, Dec 5, IRNA � President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday hailed the nation for high turnout in Arbaeen ceremony in Karbala, Iraq, marking the 40th day of martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Imam of Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH) infallible household.

President Rouhani said in a massage that Arbaeen ceremony and massive presence of the people relay the message of spirituality, security, morality and self-sacrifice to the world.

He said that that cooperation and solidarity of Iraqi officials in providing security for hosting the pilgrims, especially the role of noble Iranian nation, added to magnificence and glory of the great epic.

He said the ceremony was held at a time when enemies of religion and spirituality try to stir terror and intimidation to make the region insecure and tarnish the beautiful and peaceful image of Islam and portray it as violent and extremist.

Nearly 20 million Muslims from across the world, including Iran, attended the 100-km rally, while hundreds of thousands more joined them on the way to Karbala and to the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS).

Imam Hussein (AS) was martyred in the 680 A.D. battle fought on the plains outside Karbala, a city in modern Iraq that's home to the Imam's holy shrine.

The occasion is the source of an enduring moral lesson for the Shia Muslims.

By IRNA