A Lebanese Shiite Muslim woman reacts as she listens to the story of Imam Hussein, during Ashoura in the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007. Ashoura is part of the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which the saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis.
Lebanon
A Lebanese Shiite Muslim mother hits her son's head to cause it to bleed more after it was cut with a sword during Ashoura day in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007.
Lebanon
Lebanese Shiite Muslim men, raise their hands while shouting pro-Imam Hussein slogans, as they march to mark Ashoura day in the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007. Ashoura day is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis.
Lebanon
Lebanese Shiite Muslim men beat their chests while shouting pro-Imam Hussein slogans, as they walk in front of destroyed building from the Lebanese-Israeli war last summer, during Ashoura day in the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007.
Lebanon
Staff of the Lebanese Civil Defense treat the bleeding head of a Shiite Muslim man after he cut it with a sword during Ashoura day in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007.
Lebanon
Lebanese Shiite Muslim men hit their heads to cause them to bleed more after they cut them with a sword, take part in Ashoura day remembrance in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007.
Lebanon
A young Lebanese boy is seen with swords during Ashoura day in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Tuesday Jan. 30, 2007. Bandana on the boy's head reads in Arabic: "Oh Ali!"
Lebanon
A Lebanese Shiite Muslim girl covers her ears while other women react as they listen to the story of Imam Hussein, during Ashoura day in the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007. Ashoura day is the remembrance of the 680 A.D. battle in which their saint and grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, Hussein, was killed by rivals cementing the split in Islam between Shiites and Sunnis.
Lebanon
Blood covers the ground of the mosque of Nabatiyeh after Lebanese Shiite Muslim men cut their heads with swords and bled during the traditional Ashoura day ceremony in the southern market town of Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007.
Iraq
Iraqi pilgrims carry religious flags during Ashoura, the tenth day of Muharram, an important period of mourning for Shiites, in Karbala, Iraq, 50 miles south of Baghdad, Tuesday Jan. 30, 2007. The Remembrance of Muharram marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala when Imam Hussein, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was killed.
Iran
Iranian and Iraqi Shiite Muslims beat themselves during religious ceremonial rituals around a model of the resting place of Imam Hussein in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007, on the holy day of Ashoura. Shiite Muslims celebrate Ashoura marking the death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, who was killed in a 680 A.D. battle at Karbala in Iraq.
Iran
Actors perform Tazieh, a traditional theater scene about Imam Hussein, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007. During rituals on the holy day of Ashoura, Iranian Shiite Muslims mark the death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, who was killed in a 680 A.D. battle at Karbala in Iraq. Green veiled children represent Imam Hussein's family and red veiled men represent enemies.
Pakistan
A Pakistani Shiite Muslim devotee beats himself with knives and chains during a procession to mark the Ashoura Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Ashoura is the climax of 10 days of commemorations of the 7th century slaying of Imam Hussein, grandson of Islam's prophet Muhammad, in a battle that took place in what is now Karbala, Iraq.
Pakistan
A Pakistani Shiite Muslim devotee chants religious slogans while carrying a sword to be used for beating himself during a procession to mark the Ashoura, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Turkey
Mourning Shiite men, holding an illustration of Saint Ali, chant Islamic slogans in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, Jan. 29, 2007, as they commemorate the death of Imam Hussein on the Shiite fasting day of Ashoura. Although most of Turkey's predominantly Muslim population is from Islam's Sunni sect, a small minority of Shiites also live in the country.
India
An Indian Shiite Muslim woman mourns during a procession to mark Ashoura, the tenth day of Muharram, in Islampur, about 50 miles from the eastern Indian city of Siliguri, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007. Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar is observed around the world for ten days of mourning in remembrance of martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
India
Indian Shiite Muslims flagellating themselves during a mourning procession to mark Ashoura, the 10th day of Muharram, are seen through an arched doorway of the Char Minar monument in Hyderabad, India, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007. Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar is observed around the world for ten days of mourning in remembrance of martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
India
A boy, his head bandaged to stop the flow of blood after flagellating himself, is carried by his mother during a mourning procession to mark Ashoura, the tenth day of Muharram, in Bhopal, India, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007. Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, is observed around the world with ten days of mourning in remembrance of martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
India
Shiite Muslims self flagellate after entering a mosque during a mourning procession to mark Ashoura, the tenth day of Muharram, in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007. Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar is observed around the world with ten days of mourning in remembrance of martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
India
Muslim pilgrims flagellate themselves during a mourning procession of the Islamic holy Ashoura in Calcutta, India Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007. The remembrance marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala when Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was killed.