A high-ranking official from Iran's road transport sector announced on Friday that all preparations have been completed at the six main border crossings with Iraq for the upcoming annual Arbaeen pilgrimage. Modernized cooling systems have been implemented, passenger areas expanded, and transport services overhauled to improve the movement of millions of pilgrims.
Ali Hankai, Deputy Head of the Iranian Organization for Road Services and Transportation, noted that planning for these border crossings began at the start of the year. The authorities' goal was to eliminate shortcomings identified during previous pilgrimages.
The six crossings serving Arbaeen pilgrims include Mehran, Shalancheh, Chazabeh, Hosravi, Tamarchin, and Bashmak. Hankai stated that efforts were made to rectify past deficiencies and prepare the terminals so that pilgrims could cross the border with minimal difficulty.
Updated cooling systems have been installed in all terminals, and emergency power generators have been mounted to ensure continuous service in case of power outages. Furthermore, authorities have installed misting systems, expanded shaded areas, and established covered pedestrian routes to provide more comfortable conditions for pilgrims traveling in the summer heat.
Hankai added that temporary and permanent sanitary facilities have been built or renovated at the terminals, and prayer halls have been expanded. Additional toilets and prayer areas have also been placed along the main routes, which facilitates access for elderly pilgrims and people with disabilities.
Special attention was paid to the Mehran crossing, through which, according to Hankai, approximately half of all Arbaeen pilgrims are expected to pass. In Mehran, all pedestrian corridors are now equipped with permanent or temporary canopies, powerful ventilation units have been installed along the pedestrian paths, and passenger halls are fitted with industrial cooling systems.
Hankai urged pilgrims to plan their trips well in advance and to stagger return journeys over several days to reduce crowding at the borders. He also reported that tickets for circular bus routes are available in many directions to simplify planning. In Shia Islam, Arbaeen marks 40 days after Ashura—the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Muhammad and the third Shia Imam. Millions of pilgrims travel annually to the holy city of Karbala, Iraq, many on foot, to commemorate this memory.
Catholic tradition maintains the belief in the transformation of preserved mortal remains into relics. The Vatican refers to incorrupt saints as those whose bodies or parts show exceptional preservation after death, which many faithful view as an indication of holiness.
However, it is important to emphasize that the Roman Catholic Church itself does not establish bodily preservation as a miraculous or supernatural requirement. It recognizes the influence of physical, biological, and environmental elements in this phenomenon. Furthermore, preservation is not a prerequisite for canonization.
Researcher Leonardo Rossi states that, for the Roman Catholic Church, the absence of decomposition, the malleability of flesh post-mortem, and the emission of fragrances do not constitute proof of divine election or supernatural events, and therefore do not justify special honors on altars.
The first records of this phenomenon date back to the 4th century AD, accumulating hundreds of documented cases. Before the Catholic reforms of the 17th and 18th centuries, the mere existence of incorrupt bodies was sufficient to foster small cults and devotions.
In an article published in 2025, Rossi cataloged one hundred bodies currently preserved and displayed in churches, sanctuaries, or religious institutions. Among the best-known examples are Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, Anthony of Padua, Saint Rita of Cascia, Saint Catherine Labouré, Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Thérèse of Jesus, and others.
Bernadette Soubirous, a French nun born in 1844 and died in 1879, witnessed several apparitions of a woman dressed in white, who later identified herself as Our Lady of Conception. Thirty years after her death, in 1909, her body was exhumed for the purpose of recognizing the canonization process and was found in almost perfect condition, without unpleasant odor. Subsequent exhumations, conducted in 1918 and 1925, also confirmed the integrity of the body. Some relics were removed, and a wax mask was created for the saint. Her body is displayed at the Convent of Saint-Gildard, located in Nevers, France.
Considered possibly the most popular saint in Brazil, Anthony of Padua has highly venerated relics, although he is not classified as an incorrupt saint. His tongue was found remarkably preserved when his tomb was opened in 1263, approximately thirty years after his death. This finding was interpreted as a sign, given that Anthony was an eloquent preacher and his tongue had disseminated Christian teachings during his life. Centuries later, in 1981, Pope John Paul II ordered the exhumation, at which time the vocal cords were also found intact. Currently, these relics reside in the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, in Italy. The tongue remains in the same golden reliquary used in the 13th century and can be seen by devotees.
Patroness of impossible causes, Saint Rita of Cascia is perhaps the most popular incorrupt saint among Brazilians. After becoming a widow and losing her children to illness, Rita entered a convent in her hometown, Cascia, in Italy. In 1457, after her death, an unusual event was noticed: the church where she was buried began to emit a pleasant fragrance that lasted for centuries. One hundred and fifty years after her death, her body was exhumed and found intact. She was canonized in 1900, and decades later, in 1946, the Basilica of Saint Rita was erected in her honor, where her body is displayed today.
Catherine Labouré (1806-1876) chose to become a nun after a dream in which she was guided by a man to a room full of sick people, being instructed to care for them. She recognized this man in a portrait as Saint Vincent de Paul. Immediately, she decided to join his order. In 1830, she received visions of the Virgin Mary, who described the design for the Miraculous Medal, an object of Catholic devotion to this day. In 1933, more than fifty years after her death, her body was exhumed and found incorrupt. She was canonized in 1947, and her body is displayed in the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal in Paris.
The famous French saint who inspired Catherine Labouré, Saint Vincent de Paul, dedicated his life to the needy, founding the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity. He died in 1660 and was exhumed in 1712, when his body was found intact. However, a second exhumation, carried out in 1737 (the year of his canonization), revealed that an underground flood had caused its natural deterioration. Only his heart remained intact, and it is currently displayed in a reliquary in the chapel of the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity, in Paris.
The philosopher and theologian Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) was a prominent figure in 14th-century Catholic circles. She was one of the main forces behind the return of the Papacy from Avignon (France) to Rome. Since 1939, she has been the patron saint of Italy, alongside Saint Francis of Assisi. The body of Saint Catherine of Siena is partially incorrupt, but it has a historical peculiarity: her relics are dispersed across various European cities. The saint died in Rome in 1380, and her body was separated a year later, by papal order, to be sent to her hometown.
Her relics are located as follows: the main body is buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, in Rome. Her mummified head and thumb are on display in the Basilica of San Domenico, in Siena, and her right thumb rests in a smaller nearby reliquary. Her left foot is kept in Venice, in the church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo. A rib, previously belonging to the Cathedral of Siena, was donated to the sanctuary of Saint Catherine in Astenet, Belgium, in 1985. A scapula fragment is located in the sanctuary of Saint Catherine in Siena.
Teresa of Ávila, the Spaniard known as Saint Thérèse of Jesus (1515-1582), is one of the most notable examples of partial preservation of mortal remains among Catholic saints. Founder of the reform of the Carmelite Order and one of the greatest mystics in Christian history, she was canonized in 1622. Openings made in her tomb in the years 1750, 1914, and 2024 always revealed her incorrupt and well-preserved body.
The relics of Teresa of Ávila are distributed in several locations in Spain and Europe: most of the mortal remains remain in the Basilica of the Annunciation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in a tomb-reliquary in Alba de Tormes, Spain. Her heart is also in this same basilica. Her left arm is in the Convent of the Discalced Carmelites of Ronda. Her left hand is preserved in the Carmelite Museum of Lisbon. One index finger is preserved in the Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Additionally, small bone fragments are scattered in Carmelite churches and convents globally, including in Italy, France, and various Latin American countries, although there is no complete public inventory of these relics.
Currently, great attention is being paid to finding prompt solutions for issues that concern people, as well as establishing dialogue with them and conducting a detailed analysis of existing shortcomings and problems.
Dilnoza Kattakhonova, Deputy Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Chair of the Committee on Family and Women's Affairs, held an open meeting with a group of women. During this meeting, she spoke individually with each applicant.
The problems worrying the women, the reasons for these difficulties, the measures taken so far, and the practical solutions expected by citizens were discussed in detail. The appeals covered various aspects of life, including housing and social assistance, employment and job placement, family relations and legal protection, protection against pressure and violence, healthcare and children's education, as well as alimony and child benefits.
Special attention was paid to the appeals of women who are in a difficult social situation, have lost their provider, are raising children alone, or are facing complex health or housing situations. Furthermore, proposals and requests regarding ensuring employment for young women, realizing their professional potential, supporting entrepreneurial initiatives, and expanding educational opportunities were heard.
Each appeal relates to a vital issue, and the opportunity to be heard is the first step toward achieving a targeted solution. The Committee on Family and Women's Affairs continues its work to strengthen direct communication with women, listen to their problems on site, and find practical solutions.
As part of the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the state sovereignty of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a modern educational center for youth was handed over for use in the village of 'Turttom' of the Zomin district rural council in Jizzakh region.
This new educational facility was created as an important opportunity for rural youth to gain knowledge, acquire vocational and technical skills, and obtain modern competencies. Representatives of the district administration, village activists, public figures, youth, and members of the general public took part in the opening ceremony.
It was particularly emphasized at the event that supporting youth in the country, increasing their intellectual potential, professional training, ensuring employment, and encouraging entrepreneurial initiative are among the key directions of state policy. The new center is designed to help young residents of the village organize their free time meaningfully, provide them with modern knowledge and practical skills, and shape competitive specialists for the labor market. All necessary conditions have been created here for youth education.
The project was implemented within the framework of the 'Kumak' (Help) program, which allocated 130 million sums in the form of credit funds. Entrepreneur Akhmadali Ergashev ensured the high-quality completion of construction work in a short period, building an educational center that meets modern requirements.
This initiative is a practical embodiment of the consistent reforms carried out by the state in the field of supporting the private sector, stimulating entrepreneurship, and expanding educational infrastructure for youth. In particular, the 'Kumak' project, aimed at forming a modern educational environment in remote areas, has proven to be an effective mechanism. These projects are seen as a logical continuation of reforms in the country's youth policy. Of particular importance is the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated March 26, 2025, 'On measures to implement the tasks set during the open dialogue with the youth of the Republic of Uzbekistan,' which defined priority tasks for youth education, professional training, involvement in entrepreneurial activities, and creating new opportunities for them. The educational center in Zomin district is one of the important projects ensuring the practical implementation of these tasks.
At the end of the event, the ribbon of the educational center was solemnly cut, and participants familiarized themselves with the modern classrooms, learning conditions, and opportunities offered to the rural youth. There is confidence that the new educational center will become a hub of knowledge and professional training for the youth of the 'Turttom' MFI and Zomin district, contributing to their development as qualified specialists possessing modern knowledge and skills.
