I am very happy because I took part in these head-beating processions
Posted on 02/09/2006 12:24:17 PM PST by immigration lady
KARBALA, Iraq - More than one million Iraqis marched and beat themselves Thursday in blood-soaked processions through this holy city and other Shiite centers around the country to mourn the seventh century death of their revered martyr, Imam Hussein… Following dawn prayers, about 8,000 people, dressed in black as a sign of mourning and including children as young as 8, marched between the two shrines to the deep beat of bass drums. Some slapped chains across their backs until their clothes were soaked with blood, while others beat their heads with the flat side of long swords and knives until blood ran freely in a ritual of grief that was banned under ousted dictator Saddam Hussein. Some sliced their foreheads with the edge of a sword in a practice known as "al-Tatbeer" — meaning "sword" in Arabic — and beat themselves while chanting "Haider, Haider," a name by which Hussein's father, Ali, is known. "Although it is a sad day, I am very happy because I took part in these head-beating processions," said 10-year-old Haider Abbas Salim, whose face was covered in blood. "Imam Hussein's martyrdom teaches us manhood and that we shouldn't fear anything." Hussein is the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad
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These headlines always mess me up because I always read Shiites without the i and the e.....but then you just have to laugh
I saw some pics of this this AM. Flagellating themselves, looking as if doused in blood, brandishing bloody-looking swords.
Not your everyday Easter Parade.
You can't make this stuff up.
thanks - didn't see this earlier! :-)
Finally, someone gets close to an objective way of writing his name.
"I saw some pics of this this AM. Flagellating themselves, looking as if doused in blood, brandishing bloody-looking swords.
Not your everyday Easter Parade."
Depends where you live. How about these guys?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1901095.stm
I am very happy because I took part in these head-beating processions
Geesh! I had no idea.
Does any one ever die in this "tradition". It seems to me muslims can't do any type of celebrating without a few dozen of the sheetheads dying.
morons.
They use fake blood.
Now it makes since. They have been hit in the head with swords all their lives. No wonder they act insane. A good blow to the head will do that. Maybe they need bigger swords.
This is unrelated but I don't want to start a new thread. Paul Bremer is doing a great job on CNN right now...the guy is hawking his book, but is supporting the war very well.
I was under the impression a couple weeks ago he was going to try to knock down the administration, but he isn't at all....even saying we are on a great path to success.
Now, as for the shiites marching, this is a big day in shiite history. Hopefully no major violence occurs.
mark
Equally nonsensical to me that Christians would do anything like this. Jesus suffered for our sins so we would not have to. These acts deny the greatest gift God gave us.
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