Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims thronged a shrine in Baghdad on Wednesday for mourning ceremony of seventh Imam of Prophet’s Household, Musa bin Jaafar al-Kadhim (as).

Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims thronged a shrine in Baghdad on Wednesday for mourning ceremony of seventh Imam of Prophet’s Household, Musa bin Jaafar al-Kadhim (as).

Security forces effectively shut down much of the Iraqi capital, closing off major roads and limiting what cars could be on the streets, to protect against attacks after nationwide violence rose last month to its highest level since 2008.

Pilgrims from across the country descended on the shrine, dedicated to a revered Imam, for commemoration ceremonies which culminated on Wednesday in the northern neighborhood of Kadhimiyah.

Mourners carried to the shrine a symbolic coffin draped in green cloth inscribed with Quranic passages, marking the 799 AD martyrdom of Imam Kadhim (as).

Organizers said several million pilgrims visited the shrine over the course of the past week.

The ceremonies come amid a surge in attacks, coupled with numerous unresolved political disputes and months-long anti-government protests in Iraq's north and west.

"The terrorists will not scare us," said Khaled Naama, a 35-year-old day laborer from the southern city of Samawa.

Interior ministry spokesman Brigadier General Saad Maan said no violent incidents had been recorded.