Iraq's ''Peace Valley''- World's largest cementery

Iraq - The pace of daily burials rose to 150-200. The rate was 80-120 a day previously

The world's largest cemetery, in Iraq's holy city of Najaf, is expanding at double its usual rate as they bury their dead from the war against Daesh.
The Wadi al-Salam cemetery, Arabic for "Peace Valley," has a special place in the hearts of Shi'ite Muslims as it surrounds the Mausoleum of their first imam, Ali Bin Abi Talib,(PBUH) a cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Mohammad(PBUH).

The pace of daily burials rose to 150-200. The rate was 80-120 a day previously
Shi'ite paramilitary often visit Ali's golden-domed shrine before heading to the frontlines to battle Daesh and request to be laid to rest in Wadi al-Salam should they be killed, as a reward for their sacrifice.

As land becomes scarce, the cost of a standard 25 square metre family burial lot has risen to about 5 million Iraqi dinars ($4100) almost double the amount paid for the same lots before violence escalated.

Millions of graves of different shapes lie in the roughly 10 square km (4 square miles) cemetery that attracts burials from Shiites all over the world. By nationality, Iraq's Iranian neighbours are thought to come second in number people interred near Ali's golden-domed shrine.
Often built with baked bricks and plaster, decorated with Quranic calligraphy, some graves are above ground tombs, reflecting the wealth of those within.
 

• MENA