Shiite Muslims mark end of Ashura

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-31-2007 08:42

Tens of thousands of Shiite Muslims have marked the end of Ashura.

An Iraqi Shiite cuts his scalp with a silver knife during a Ashura mourning rite in the holy city of Najaf. (AFP Photo)

That's the climax of 10 days of commemorations marking the anniversary of the death of Imam al-Hussein, a grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad.

Imam al-Hussein's death in 680 A.D. cemented the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunni Muslims. Ashura became one of the holiest days on the Shiite Islamic calendar.

In Iraq, thousands of people gathered on the streets of the holy city of Karbala. Many were chanting and hitting themselves on the head.

The ceremonies come amid heightened sectarian tensions in Iraq. And on Tuesday, there were several deadly attacks on Shiites marking the anniversary across the country.

In Iran, the world's largest Shiite nation, crowds of marchers took to the streets of Tehran.

The commemorations were attended by men and women. Mourners beat their shoulders with chains as they marched through the streets.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Hezbollah members and supporters beat their chests in rhythmic movements. This, as a sign of grief as they marched through the streets of southern Beirut.

In the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Shiites slashed their heads as they marched through the streets. Later, they pounding on the wounds with the palms of their hands, or with swords to draw more blood.

Meanwhile in Pakistan, tens of thousands of Shiite Muslim worshippers also joined processions to mark Ashura.

Young pilgrims self-flagellate as they take part in the religious festival of Ashura in Kadhimiya district in Baghdad January 29, 2007.

In the northern city of Rawalpindi, well over ten thousand people joined the procession. Many men flailed their backs with blades attached to chains, drawing blood in a sign of mourning.

Security was tight. Especially since several recent outbreaks of sectarian violence across the country prompted fears of wider bloodshed between Sunnis and Shiites.

Many are concerned that the Sunni-Shiite violence raging in Iraq is feeding Pakistan's own sectarian conflict. And analysts say this could erode the stability of a country already struggling to contain Taliban and al-Qaida militants.

Editor:Du Xiaodan