Muslims mark Ashura with mourning ceremonies

YemenExtra

Muslims have started staging passionate mourning ceremonies in commemoration of the day,  in their millions.

The occasion, known as Ashura, marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussein and 72 of his companions in 680 AD in a land that is known today as Iraq, after they refused to pledge allegiance to the tyrant Yazid.

Ashura is the culmination of a 10-day annual mourning period in the lunar month of Muharram for the third Imam of Shia Muslims, who was a grandson of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).

On Saturday, huge masses in Yemen and other countries such as,Iran, Pakistan held mourning rituals on the ninth day of Muharram to mark Tasu’a, the ninth day of lunar month.