In a 2007 Leor Halevi book, a city in this modern-day country was said to be “padlocking the women” in it by cracking down on wailing in funerals. Elizabeth Warnock Fernea published a 1965 ethnography of a village in this country, which is also the site of an event often commemorated by beating one’s chest in the practice of matam. This country’s “valley of peace” is often claimed to be the world’s largest cemetery. An event that occurred in this country is recounted in (*) ta’ziyeh passion plays. The first hawza was founded in this modern-day country by Shaykh Tusi. The Arbaeen pilgrimage commemorates Husayn’s death in this country and occurs 40 days after Ashura. For 10 points, the holy city of Najaf is located in what country where Shi’a rituals were banned by Saddam Hussein? ■END■
ANSWER: Iraq [or Republic of Iraq or Jumhūriyyat al-ʿIrāq or Komarî Êraq] (The Halevi book is Muhammad’s Grave. Fernea’s ethnography is Guests of the Sheik.)
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= Average correct buzz position