Free Republic

Imam Hussein was killed by armies of the Yazid near Karbala in 680 AD. Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan have day as national holiday. Blood-covered young men swarm into the streets as part of a religious procession in Pakistan. Children also take part in the gory ritual self-flagellation which is held ahead of Ashura on the ninth day of Muharram in Peshawar. Shi'a Muslims all over the world pay their respects with the flowing of their blood as they mourn the slaying and martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad.

WASHINGTON : Presidential hopeful and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry today announced he has offered Johnny Depp first refusal of the coveted VP spot in his Democratic bid for the White House. I first saw Johnny in that scissors movie, Kerry told reporters, and I’ve wanted to run with him ever since. A source close to the Kerry campaign stated that Kerry believes Depp’s charm, charisma and intense global popularity is just the thing needed to sway voter support of post-teen females, twenty-something housewives, every woman in middle-aged America and that ‘certain section of guys’ towards the Democratic ticket in November....

A Look at Ashoura, the Holiest Day of the Shiite Muslim Calendar Mar 2, 2004 The Associated Press The series of deadly blasts Tuesday struck important shrines on the holiest day of the Shiite Muslim calendar, Ashoura, which marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad, in a 7th century battle for leadership of the Islamic world. Hundreds of thousands of Shiites around the world traditionally gather at the Hussein's tomb in Karbala and other Shiite holy sites in Iraq. Black-garbed pilgrims flagellate themselves with chains and cut themselves with swords in grief at Hussein's death...

Pakistani authorities said they stepped up security at airports to the highest level on Saturday, but insisted there was no specific threat of any attack. Additional security forces have been deployed, Airport Security Force spokesman Zahid Hussain Malik said. Security will be particularly tight in Karachi, which has the nation's largest and busiest airport. "The Airport Security Force received instructions from higher authorities to increase security at all airports, especially Karachi," Malik said. The move comes amid operations this week against Al-Qaida suspects in Pakistan's tribal region along the Afghan border, and also coincides with Muharram, a month of mourning...

Suicide Attacker Blows Himself Up Near Mosque, No One but Attacker Killed Feb 28, 2004 The Associated Press ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - A suspected suicide attacker blew himself up near a Shiite Muslim mosque in a city near the Pakistani capital on Saturday, Pakistani officials told The Associated Press. There were no apparent casualties other than the attacker, said Interior Ministry spokesman Abdur Rauf Chaudhry. The attacker detonated his explosives near a crowded mosque where worshippers were marking the holiday of Muharram, he said. Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told AP that the situation was "under control." Muharram is a...