IRAQ: SHI'ITE ASHURA CEREMONY TAKES PLACE IN KERBALA.

Record ID: 647518

  • Title: IRAQ: SHI'ITE ASHURA CEREMONY TAKES PLACE IN KERBALA.
  • Date: 29th February 2004
  • Summary: (U7) KERBALA, 120 KM SOUTH OF BAGHDAD, IRAQ (FEBRUARY 28-2004) (REUTERS)(NIGHTSHOTS) 1. VARIOUS OF SHI'ITES BANGING DRUMS AND CHANTING ISLAMIC SLOGANS 2. A YOUNG IRAQI SHI'ITE BOY RIDING A HORSE AND CARRYING A SWORD (REPRESENTING A HISTORICAL ISLAMIC FIGURE) 3. MORE OF SHI'ITES LEADING THE HORSE INTO THE HOLY SHRINE 4. GROUPS OF SHI'ITES BEATING THEIR CHESTS 5. BANNER 6. MORE OF SHI'ITES BEATING THEIR CHESTS 7. MEN FLOGGING THEMSELVES/ BEATING DRUMS 8. MEN BANGING SYMBOLS 9. TOP VIEW OF THE SHI'ITES PILGRIMS AND THE MINARETS OF AL-HUSSEIN SHRINE Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 15th March 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KERBALA, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA1RAJ8ZD84KD2GGQJ61JDUHWBI
  • Story Text: Iraqi Shi'ites in Iraq's holy city of Kerbala commemorate
    the deaths of two of the grandsons of the Prophet Mohammad 1,400
    years ago in the religious Ashura ceremony.



    Men beating their chests and carrying Islamic
    religious symbols which weigh over 75 kg walked the streets
    of Kerbala for the seventh day of Ashura on Saturday
    (February 28, 2004).

    This year's ceremony is the first since the fall of Saddam
    Hussein, a member of Iraq's Sunni minority, who only
    allowed the anniversary to be marked under tight controls,
    if at all.

    The ceremony will intensify daily, leading up to the
    culmination of Ashura on the tenth day.

    By beating their chests and chanting religious slogans, the
    men and young boys relive the pain suffered by Imam
    al-Hussein and Imam al-Abbas - the grandsons of the prophet
    Mohammad - and their 72 followers.

    Rival Ummayad Caliph Yazid in a battle in Kerbala killed
    imam al-Hussein some 1.400 years ago after a 10-day seige.

    On the 10th of Muharram (October 10, 680 AD), Imam
    al-Hussein and all his followers were slaughtered by
    Yazid's army.

    Yazid became the sixth caliph, ruling from Damascus.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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