Ashura to be marked April 5

Ashura is a tragic date in Islamic history, when Imam Hussein (son of Imam Ali and grandson of Prophet Muhammad), together with his 72 followers, was brutally killed in Karbala city of modern Iraq.

This year Ashura is marked on April 5, the tenth day of the Month of Prayer Muharram. The duty of each Muslim on this day is to commemorate the killed Imam and his people and pray. But Shiite Muslims usually beat themselves with chains and swords in grief, which sometimes has lethal result. The practice, however, is said to be banned by the Holy Koran.

Ashura is largely marked by Shiite Muslims, or only 10% of all Muslims. Shiite Islam is predominantly spread in Iran, Azerbaijan and Iraq. Unlike Soviet times when Azeri Muslims used to mark the tragedy in a clandestine manner, nowadays Ashura mourning is marked openly.

Especially solemn are mourning ceremonies in Iran, as Iranians encourage commemoration of Ashura in Azerbaijan as well.*