Lucknow joins Iraq protest: ‘Bar on entry’ to imambaras

Tomorrow, Chhota Imambara and Shahnajaf Imambara will join the movement to keep citizens of these countries away from their doors. The flags of the US, Britain and Israel will be laid out at the entrance to these monuments.

‘‘These tourists will be allowed to enter only after they have stepped over the flags of their country,’’ said Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, who is leading the agitation.

Jawwad says the protest will continue until American and British forces pull out of Najaf and Karbala. Meanwhile, posters that read ‘‘Americans, British and Israelis not allowed’’ will continue to be displayed at the imambaras.

In fact, Jawwad plans to widen the scope of the agitation. Claiming that even the Sunnis and the Hindus support this move, he has planned to hold a protest rally on June 20 at the Ram Lila grounds in New Delhi to protest against the bombing of Iraqi cities.

The imambaras are considered replicas of the tombs of Imam Hasan and Imam Husain, the grandsons of Prophet Mohammad, and their family members, in Najaf and Karbala. They died fighting in the Battle of Karbala against the forces of Yezid. Jawaad insists turning tourists away is a small price to pay to make their point.