Shiite Muslims mark Ashura in Iraq and Lebanon amidst Gaza war
On July 17th, Shiite Muslims commemorated Ashura, marking the death of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein, who died in the late 7th century. The day of mourning also sees many pay tribute to Palestinians facing daily attacks and famine-like conditions amidst Israel’s continued attack on Gaza, with the conflict having entered its 10th month, reported the New Arab and the National.
Hussein ibn Ali refused to pledge his allegiance to the Umayyad Caliph Yazid ibn Mu’awiya on moral grounds, which led to his death in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. The event marked a significant split between the two major sects of Islam, Sunni and Shia, with the latter accounting for 10% of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims.
The Shia community views Ashura as a symbolic day representing an act of protest against oppression and injustice. The holy day usually sees processions wearing black as a sign of mourning whilst carrying red flags that represent Hussein’s blood. Clerics recite the story, with many mourners striking themselves to share the pain of Hussein.
In the southern suburbs of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, known for having a strong presence of Hezbollah members, youth scouts join processions on Ashura whilst parading portraits of prominent Shia leaders. The portraits include Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini and prominent Lebanese cleric Moussa al-Sadr, who has been missing since 1978.
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Thousands of those attending the procession also paid tribute by waving yellow flags for the deceased Hezbollah fighters who have been killed by Israeli military strikes in southern Lebanon since the militant group had begun fighting them in mid-October.
Hezbollah has reportedly killed 17 soldiers and 13 civilians in the last ten months, according to Israeli figures. Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have killed over 450 people. Lebanese casualties mainly consist of combatants, though children, journalists and paramedics have also been killed. The clashes across the Lebanon-Israel border have led to tens of thousands being displaced on both sides.
Nasrallah had previously stated that Hezbollah would not hold Ashura processions due to the ongoing fighting. In a televised address to commemorate Ashura, the Lebanese cleric warned the Israeli military against targeting civilians in Lebanon, declaring that the group would attack new Israeli towns and villages in response.
“If your tanks came to Lebanon and southern Lebanon … you won’t have any left.”
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Iraq saw thousands of Shiite Muslim pilgrims commemorate Ashura at Hussein’s shrine built in the city of Karbala, where he died. The occasion is the second largest Islamic gathering behind the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Many Iraqis held Palestinian flags and shouted support for Hezbollah.
In a practice known as “tatbir”, some Muslim believers beat their backs with chains and knives to the point of bloodshed to recreate the blood flowing from the slain Hussein. The extreme form of self-flagellation has remained controversial in the Shiite community, with many Shiite clerics condemning the practice.
Abu Alaa al-Walae, a leader of the Shiite militia known as Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada in Iraq, stated that Hussein’s battle in Karbala is still ongoing to this day as they fight against Israel and the United States. He went on to label the alliance of Iran, Hezbollah and other Tehran-backed groups as “the camp that champions the rights of Hussein.”
With a coalition of militias known as the Islamic Resistance claiming responsibility for attacks on U.S. military bases in Iraq and eastern Syria, Iraqi security forces have remained on high alert. The umbrella group of Iran-backed forces are demanding an end to the Gaza war and for all American troops to leave Iraq and Syria.
The New Arab / The National and agencies
