NABATIYEH, Lebanon (AP) – Shiite Muslims around the world commemorated one of their most significant religious observances, Ashoura, on Friday. This annual event marks the martyrdom of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in the seventh century. Large gatherings took place in countries including Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon, as well as other parts of the globe.
Ashoura falls on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic lunar calendar and represents the culmination of a ten-day mourning period for Hussein, who died fighting against Caliph Yazid's forces, refusing to pledge allegiance to him. This event initiated a profound split between Sunni and Shiite Islam, transforming Hussein's death into a lasting emblem of resistance against oppression and injustice.
This year's Ashoura takes place against the backdrop of a recent conflict involving predominantly Shiite Iran, the United States, and Israel, which launched strikes on Iran in February. Among the casualties was Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose death at the age of 86 struck a chord with Shiite Muslims worldwide. A funeral for Khamenei is set to be held in early July.
In Karbala, the Iraqi Shiite holy city where Hussein is buried, many attendees participated in the Ashoura events, gathering at his shrine, which attracts millions of visitors annually. In Baghdad, thousands marched through the streets, with some engaging in acts of self-flagellation as a traditional expression of grief.
In Lebanon, where a tenuous ceasefire exists between Israel and Hezbollah, thousands gathered in the southern suburbs of Beirut to pay tribute at a shrine dedicated to the former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who died in Israeli airstrikes in 2024. Many women mourned publicly, holding photographs of family members lost in the recent conflict, while others displayed images of Khamenei, emphasizing the intertwined nature of personal and communal grief during Ashoura.
In Nabatiyeh, typically a major center for Ashoura gatherings, attendees braved the remnants of destruction from recent Israeli airstrikes. Throughout the day, some inflicted head injuries on themselves as a display of mourning, despite this practice being criticized by factions within the Shiite community, including Hezbollah. Reports indicated Israeli airstrikes targeted the nearby village of Nabatiyeh al-Fawqa, with no immediate information on casualties.
Participants expressed their loyalty and love for Imam Hussein, with Khader Kamal stating, “Despite all the hardships… we came to reaffirm our loyalty." For Shiite Muslims, the killing of Hussein holds significant religious and historical importance, deeply influencing their community identity.
Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Kassem, remarked in a speech that Ashoura reflects the ongoing struggle against perceived threats from the U.S. and Israel, whom he accuses of waging a war against Shiite identities. Kassem claimed, “The memorandum of understanding is a declaration of defeat for America and Israel," referencing a recent agreement between Washington and Tehran.
