In response to the call of the Supreme Religious Authority: The local government in the holy city of Karbala in cooperation with the Al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine announces the formation of a squad for the defence of Iraq and sanctities ..

Proceeding from the legitimate and national duty towards the beloved country and its sanctities, and implementing and complying with the fatwa of the Supreme Religious Authority in the holy city of Najaf about the sufficient duty to defend the land of Iraq and its sanctities, the local government in the province of Karbala has announced on the afternoon of Saturday (22nd of Sha'ban 1435 AH) corresponding to (June 21, 2014) in Alqami complex for the visitors of the holy shrine of Al-Abbas (peace be upon him) the formation of a squad for the protection of the holy city, stated by the president of the provincial council in Karbala, Mr. Nassif Jassem Al-Khattabi: "in response to the call of the religious authority, and as a result of the increasing number of volunteers in the province that the current volunteers' centres could not accommodate, the Commission of the popular crowd in the province that is affiliated to the board of the popular crowd of the country set up by the prime ministry, additional volunteers' centres have been opened in coordination with the General Secretariat of the holy shrine of Al-Abbas (peace be upon him). "

He added: "These centres will be a nucleus to form a squad to defend and protect the holy city, with the name of “Squad of Al-Abbas (peace be upon him)” ." He has pointed the places of registration, namely:
1 - Department of processions and Hussayni bodies in Al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine.
2 - the headquarters of the regiment protecting the Two Holy Shrines.

He explained: "These volunteers will engage within the formations of the security and the military services, and will work under their supervision, as confirmed by the supreme religious authority in the holy city of Najaf represented by Sayed Ali Al-Sistani".