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Shia Muslims Celebrate the Day of Ashura

Published September 20th, 2018 - 09:08 GMT

Iran - Shia Muslims slash and whip themselves to mourn the death of Prophet Muhammad's grandson.

The rituals mark the holy Day of Ashura, when Shiite Muslims remember the death of Imam Hussein. The commemoration falls in Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar.

Hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslims in Iran commemorated the seventh-century killing of Mohammed's grandson by cutting themselves and children with swords and blades swinging from chains.

Imam Hussein's martyrdom is widely interpreted by Shia as a symbol of the struggle against injustice, tyranny and oppression.

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A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourner flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura which remembers the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century, in Srinagar on September 18, 2018. TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP

A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourner flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura which remembers the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century, in Srinagar on September 18, 2018. TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP

A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourner flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura which remembers the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century, in Srinagar on September 18, 2018. TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP

A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourner flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura which remembers the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century, in Srinagar on September 18, 2018. TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP

A medical volunteer cleans the blood on the back of a Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourner who flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura which remembers the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century, in Srinagar on September 18, 2018.TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP

A medical volunteer cleans the blood on the back of a Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourner who flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura which remembers the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century, in Srinagar on September 18, 2018.TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP

Shiite Muslim boy holds his father's hand during a ceremony (Twitter)

Shiite Muslim boy holds his father's hand during a ceremony (Twitter)

Shiite pilgrims take part in a ceremony during the ten-day mourning period leading up to Ashura, on September 19, 2018 in Iraq's holy city of Karbala. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP

Shiite pilgrims take part in a ceremony during the ten-day mourning period leading up to Ashura, on September 19, 2018 in Iraq's holy city of Karbala. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP

Indian police detain a Kashmiri Shiite Muslim as devotees defied restrictions imposed on a Muharram procession in Srinagar on September 19, 2018. Tauseef MUSTAFA / AFP

Indian police detain a Kashmiri Shiite Muslim as devotees defied restrictions imposed on a Muharram procession in Srinagar on September 19, 2018. Tauseef MUSTAFA / AFP

Shiite pilgrims take part in the preparations of the Ashura ceremony in Karbala, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad on September 18, 2018. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP

Shiite pilgrims take part in the preparations of the Ashura ceremony in Karbala, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad on September 18, 2018. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP

Shiite pilgrims take part in the preparations of the Ashura ceremony in Karbala, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad on September 18, 2018. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP

Shiite pilgrims take part in the preparations of the Ashura ceremony in Karbala, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad on September 18, 2018. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP

Kashmiri muslim family watches from a window of a residential house as Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourners flagellate themselves during a religious procession.Tauseef MUSTAFA / AFP

Kashmiri muslim family watches from a window of a residential house as Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourners flagellate themselves during a religious procession.Tauseef MUSTAFA / AFP

Kuwaiti Shiite Muslims take part in a traditional mourning event during the ten-day mourning period leading up to Ashura, on September 19, 2018 in Kuwait City. Yasser Al-Zayyat / AFP

Kuwaiti Shiite Muslims take part in a traditional mourning event during the ten-day mourning period leading up to Ashura, on September 19, 2018 in Kuwait City. Yasser Al-Zayyat / AFP

Shiite pilgrims take part in a ceremony at the Imam Hussein shrine in the southern Iraqi city of Karbala on September 19, 2018.AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP

Shiite pilgrims take part in a ceremony at the Imam Hussein shrine in the southern Iraqi city of Karbala on September 19, 2018.AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP

A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourner flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura which remembers the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century, in Srinagar on September 18, 2018. TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP
A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourner flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura which remembers the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century, in Srinagar on September 18, 2018. TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP
A medical volunteer cleans the blood on the back of a Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourner who flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura which remembers the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century, in Srinagar on September 18, 2018.TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP
Shiite Muslim boy holds his father's hand during a ceremony (Twitter)
Shiite pilgrims take part in a ceremony during the ten-day mourning period leading up to Ashura, on September 19, 2018 in Iraq's holy city of Karbala. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP
Indian police detain a Kashmiri Shiite Muslim as devotees defied restrictions imposed on a Muharram procession in Srinagar on September 19, 2018. Tauseef MUSTAFA / AFP
Shiite pilgrims take part in the preparations of the Ashura ceremony in Karbala, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad on September 18, 2018. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP
Shiite pilgrims take part in the preparations of the Ashura ceremony in Karbala, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad on September 18, 2018. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP
Kashmiri muslim family watches from a window of a residential house as Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourners flagellate themselves during a religious procession.Tauseef MUSTAFA / AFP
Kuwaiti Shiite Muslims take part in a traditional mourning event during the ten-day mourning period leading up to Ashura, on September 19, 2018 in Kuwait City. Yasser Al-Zayyat / AFP
Shiite pilgrims take part in a ceremony at the Imam Hussein shrine in the southern Iraqi city of Karbala on September 19, 2018.AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP
A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourner flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura which remembers the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century, in Srinagar on September 18, 2018. TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP
A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourner flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura which remembers the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century, in Srinagar on September 18, 2018. TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP
A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourner flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura which remembers the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century, in Srinagar on September 18, 2018. TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP
A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourner flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura which remembers the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century, in Srinagar on September 18, 2018. TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP
A medical volunteer cleans the blood on the back of a Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourner who flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura which remembers the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century, in Srinagar on September 18, 2018.TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP
A medical volunteer cleans the blood on the back of a Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourner who flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura which remembers the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century, in Srinagar on September 18, 2018.TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP
Shiite Muslim boy holds his father's hand during a ceremony (Twitter)
Shiite Muslim boy holds his father's hand during a ceremony (Twitter)
Shiite pilgrims take part in a ceremony during the ten-day mourning period leading up to Ashura, on September 19, 2018 in Iraq's holy city of Karbala. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP
Shiite pilgrims take part in a ceremony during the ten-day mourning period leading up to Ashura, on September 19, 2018 in Iraq's holy city of Karbala. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP
Indian police detain a Kashmiri Shiite Muslim as devotees defied restrictions imposed on a Muharram procession in Srinagar on September 19, 2018. Tauseef MUSTAFA / AFP
Indian police detain a Kashmiri Shiite Muslim as devotees defied restrictions imposed on a Muharram procession in Srinagar on September 19, 2018. Tauseef MUSTAFA / AFP
Shiite pilgrims take part in the preparations of the Ashura ceremony in Karbala, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad on September 18, 2018. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP
Shiite pilgrims take part in the preparations of the Ashura ceremony in Karbala, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad on September 18, 2018. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP
Shiite pilgrims take part in the preparations of the Ashura ceremony in Karbala, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad on September 18, 2018. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP
Shiite pilgrims take part in the preparations of the Ashura ceremony in Karbala, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad on September 18, 2018. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP
Kashmiri muslim family watches from a window of a residential house as Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourners flagellate themselves during a religious procession.Tauseef MUSTAFA / AFP
Kashmiri muslim family watches from a window of a residential house as Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourners flagellate themselves during a religious procession.Tauseef MUSTAFA / AFP
Kuwaiti Shiite Muslims take part in a traditional mourning event during the ten-day mourning period leading up to Ashura, on September 19, 2018 in Kuwait City. Yasser Al-Zayyat / AFP
Kuwaiti Shiite Muslims take part in a traditional mourning event during the ten-day mourning period leading up to Ashura, on September 19, 2018 in Kuwait City. Yasser Al-Zayyat / AFP
Shiite pilgrims take part in a ceremony at the Imam Hussein shrine in the southern Iraqi city of Karbala on September 19, 2018.AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP
Shiite pilgrims take part in a ceremony at the Imam Hussein shrine in the southern Iraqi city of Karbala on September 19, 2018.AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP
Tags:Imam HusseinArab World

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