Thousands of Muslim Kurds from the Shiite sect hit the streets of Khanaqeen town commemorating the killing of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Muhammed. It is called the Ashura day.

Rudaw’s Halo Mohammed at the scene reported that this year a number of Muslims from Sunni sect also attended the Ashura activities.

Ashura commemorates the death of Imam Hussein in a battle fought in Karbala in 680 AD.

The day of Ashura is the 10th day of Muharram month according to the Islamic Calendar. It is believed that on this day, Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammed, was killed in a battle with the army of Yazid, one of the Muslim caliphates from Umayyed dynasty. Many Shiite Muslims around the world commemorate this day with whipping themselves, some with knives to take on the pain of Hussein.

Kerbela, an Iraqi province south of Baghdad is the center of the Ashura celebrations each year.

 

Photos by Halo Mohammed