Afghans observe Ashura amid tight security

Thousands of faithful Shiite Muslims observed Ashura or the 10th day of the month of Mohram in the Islamic calendar, to commemorate the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), on Monday amid tight security but in peaceful environment.

Police have been deployed in all sensitive areas and all roads leading to the big shrines and mourning houses have been blocked by police and anyone wants to join the mourners is strictly checked.

The ritual observed by self-flagellation and chest beating as well as religious sermons presented by scholars and politicians to the mourners urging them to forge peace, brotherhood and unity.

During the flagellation, the faithful mourners using sharp instruments including knives to beat themselves until their bodies soaked with blood.

Moreover, some mourners instead of flagellation prefer to donate blood to hospitals to help blood-needed patients.

Most Afghans are Sunni Muslims, but respect Ashura, share the mourning ceremony and pay tribute to Imam Hussain and 72 of his companions including family members and friends who were brutally martyred by Yazid forces in Karbala of Iraq, over 1,300 years ago.

The Day of Ashura which was regarded as the "Day of struggle by right forces against wrong" is commemorated by Shiite Muslims as a day of mourning for the death of Imam Husain.

Ashura which is observed in many countries is a holy day in Afghanistan. Almost all the government and private media outlets highlight various dimensions of Ashura Day and its importance on the life of Muslims.

Imam Hussain, along with 72 of his companions including friends and family members including some ladies, according to history, were martyred at the hand of Yazid's troops at the battle of Karbala in Iraq in 61 AH (680 AD) after Imam Hussain rejected to make allegiance for Yazid despotic rule.

A suicide bombing hit a shrine packed with Ashura mourners in Kabul left more than 50 people dead and scores injured in 2011 and since then the government put all security measures in place to ensure security for the mourners on Ashura Day.

Security for Ashura mourners is tight in Kabul and other big cities and so for no untoward incidents have been reported.