Ashura. Its that time of year again….

Shia Muslim pilgrims shed their own blood as hundreds of thousands gather in Iraqi shrine city to mark death of Prophet Mohammed’s grandson
  • WARNING – GRAPHIC CONTENT: Festical of Ashura is marked by Muslims drawing blood with swords in Iraq 
  • The procession has previously been attacked by ISIS, leading to 25,000 security staff being sent to Karbala
  • Pilgrims chanted against Kurdish independence after referendum vote in northern Iraq backed the move 
  • Believers wail and beat their chests to mourn the martyrdom of Mohammed’s grandson during the festival 
  • Millions in Lebanon, Iran, Greece and across South Asia have also marked the annual commemoration

By SEBASTIAN MURPHY-BATES FOR MAILONLINE

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

Past processions have faced attacks from Sunni extremists including Islamic State, which today resulted in 25,000 members of Iraqi security forces being deployed to the shrine city of Karbala to protect believers.

Some chanted slogans against Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani, like ‘Barzani you are the sponsor of dividing the country’ and ‘don’t believe we will ever give you Kirkuk’.

A Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim man holds his son as he bleeds after he was cut on the forehead with a razor during a religious procession to mark Ashura in Nabatiyeh

 A Lebanese Shi’ite Muslim man holds his son as he bleeds after he was cut on the forehead with a razor during a religious procession to mark Ashura in Nabatiyeh

Iraqi Shi'ite Muslims gash the forehead of a boy with a sword during the religious festival of Ashura in BaghdadIraqi Shi’ite Muslims gash the forehead of a boy with a sword during the religious festival of Ashura in Baghdad

Hundreds of thousands gathered in Karbala, Iraq, where security forces protected their Ashura processionHundreds of thousands gathered in Karbala, Iraq, where security forces protected their Ashura procession

An Iraqi Shiite Muslim uses a knife to cut the top of a boy's head as they take part in a traditional mourning event during Ashura, a festival previously attacked by Islamic StateAn Iraqi Shiite Muslim uses a knife to cut the top of a boy’s head as they take part in a traditional mourning event during Ashura, a festival previously attacked by Islamic State

This Iraqi Shiite Muslim child was one of millions across the world to take part in the Ashura celebration, which centres on flagellation This Iraqi Shiite Muslim child was one of millions across the world to take part in the Ashura celebration, which centres on flagellation

The faithful cut themselves to mark the holy day in Basra as part of a procession mourning Mohammed's grandson

 The faithful cut themselves to mark the holy day in Basra as part of a procession mourning Mohammed’s grandson

Pilgrims in Karbala, Iraq, where 25,000 members of the security forces were deployed to protect the procession from terrorists such as Islamic State

Pilgrims in Karbala, Iraq, where 25,000 members of the security forces were deployed to protect the procession from terrorists such as Islamic State

Vivid punters urged to use public transport after heavy traffic

Barzani’s autonomous region in northern Iraq held a referendum on September 25 that saw voters overwhelmingly back independence for Iraqi Kurdistan.

The vote was also held in disputed areas like the city of Kirkuk.

Hamed al-Obays, one of the organisers of the procession, said the chants opposed the ‘separatist conspiracy in northern Iraq’.

Pilgrims cut themselves with swords as they weep and beat their chests in mourning during the annual Ashura ceremonies.

Muslims in the Iraqi city of Najaf cut themselves with swords as part of the Ashura procession

 Muslims in the Iraqi city of Najaf cut themselves with swords as part of the Ashura procession

An Iraqi Shiite Muslim in Najaf uses a knife to cut the top of a man's head as they take part in a traditional mourning event marking the killing of Imam Hussein

 An Iraqi Shiite Muslim in Najaf uses a knife to cut the top of a man’s head as they take part in a traditional mourning event marking the killing of Imam Hussein

Blood drips down the face of a Shiite Muslim in Najaf, where believers gathered to cut one another in memory of Mohammed's grandson 

 Blood drips down the face of a Shiite Muslim in Najaf, where believers gathered to cut one another in memory of Mohammed’s grandson

A child in Sadr, Iraq, takes part in the procession, which commemorates the beheading of Imam Hussein

A child in Sadr, Iraq, takes part in the procession, which commemorates the beheading of Imam Hussein

Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves during an Ashura procession in Athens, Greece, today

 Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves during an Ashura procession in Athens, Greece, today

Afghan Shiite Muslim devotees beat themselves with chains and blades as part of a self-flagellation ritual during Ashura commemorations in the Ghazni province

 Afghan Shiite Muslim devotees beat themselves with chains and blades as part of a self-flagellation ritual during Ashura commemorations in the Ghazni province

Mourners flagellate themselves during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura, in Ahmedabad, IndiaMourners flagellate themselves during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura, in Ahmedabad, India

A Lebanese Shiite Muslim man carries a sword as he bleeds after he was cut on the forehead with a razor during a religious procession to mark Ashura in Nabatiyeh town, southern Lebanon A Lebanese Shiite Muslim man carries a sword as he bleeds after he was cut on the forehead with a razor during a religious procession to mark Ashura in Nabatiyeh town, southern Lebanon

Shiite migrants to Greece flagellate themselves during the celebrations in an industral area of Piraeus near AthensShiite migrants to Greece flagellate themselves during the celebrations in an industral area of Piraeus near Athens

The festival marks the killing of Imam Hussein by the forces of the Caliph Yazid in 680 AD – a formative event in Shiite Islam.

Imam Hussein’s death was part of a dispute over who should succeed Islam’s prophet Mohammed.

Ashura commemorates the killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, by the army of the Caliph Yazid in 680 AD

 Ashura commemorates the killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, by the army of the Caliph Yazid in 680 AD

Iraqi Shiite Muslims take part in a traditional mourning event during Ashura commemorations that mark the killing of Imam Hussein

 Iraqi Shiite Muslims take part in a traditional mourning event during Ashura commemorations that mark the killing of Imam Hussein

Believers beat and cut themselves to mark Ashura, which mourns the beheading of Imam Hussein

 Believers beat and cut themselves to mark Ashura, which mourns the beheading of Imam Hussein

A Shiite Muslim boy uses blades on chains to flagellate himself during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Chennai, India

 A Shiite Muslim boy uses blades on chains to flagellate himself during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Chennai, India

A Shiite Muslim boy prays after he beat himself at a mosque during a religious festival marking Ashura in central Yangon, MyanmarA Shiite Muslim boy prays after he beat himself at a mosque during a religious festival marking Ashura in central Yangon, Myanmar

A Lebanese Shiite Muslim man carries a sword as he bleeds after he was cut on the forehead with a razor during a religious procession to mark Ashura in Nabatiyeh town, southern Lebanon

 A Lebanese Shiite Muslim man carries a sword as he bleeds after he was cut on the forehead with a razor during a religious procession to mark Ashura in Nabatiyeh town, southern Lebanon
Shiite migrants to Greece flagellate themselves during the celebrations in an industral area of Piraeus near Athens

Shiite migrants to Greece flagellate themselves during the celebrations in an industral area of Piraeus near Athens

The festival marks the killing of Imam Hussein by the forces of the Caliph Yazid in 680 AD – a formative event in Shiite Islam.

Imam Hussein’s death was part of a dispute over who should succeed Islam’s prophet Mohammed.

Ashura commemorates the killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, by the army of the Caliph Yazid in 680 AD

Ashura commemorates the killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, by the army of the Caliph Yazid in 680 AD

Iraqi Shiite Muslims take part in a traditional mourning event during Ashura commemorations that mark the killing of Imam Hussein

 Iraqi Shiite Muslims take part in a traditional mourning event during Ashura commemorations that mark the killing of Imam Hussein
Believers beat and cut themselves to mark Ashura, which mourns the beheading of Imam Hussein

 Believers beat and cut themselves to mark Ashura, which mourns the beheading of Imam Hussein

 

 There is more. You know there’s always more…..

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4938922/Shiite-Muslim-pilgrims-shed-blood-mark-Ashura.html#ixzz4uUKvzIs3
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

5 thoughts on “Ashura. Its that time of year again….”

  1. Love that the brave Lebanese man in the first photo had the guts to cut his child, but not apparently, himself. Barbarians.

  3. All cultures are equal — Yeah, right!
    And this is what the Liberal-lefties want to import here by the thousands ?

  4. After they have “tenderised” themselves …
    After they have bled themselves out …
    After their bodies have been “collected” …
    are they then sold as halal meat from halal butcher shops …
    are they then eaten as “permitted” protein by islamophiles, fellow islams and unsuspecting islam unbelievers ?

    eugh !!!!
    no wonder the Suni’s hate them …
    and Sadam Hussein suppressed these Shiite’s Festival of Ashura !!!

  5. I’m not backing ISIS at all, but if they had half a brain they should just sit back & watch the spectacle of their enemy cutting themselves up. It’d save them the effort?

Comments are closed.