Alwaght- People in Iran and across the Muslim world are marking Ashura today, mourning martyrdom of Imam Hussein and his companions in Karbala.
Ashura is an occasion that marks both salvation and remembrance for Muslims. For the Shiites specifically, the day is a time of grief.
It marks a battle in 640 A.D in which Prophet Muhammad's grandson was martyred along with 72 of his best companions.
Every year, millions join parades to commemorate Imam Hussein who fought for freedom and rose against oppression.
The parades are the landmark remembrance of the event.
In Iran people joined the commemorations amid coronavirus crisis. People participating carefully adhered to instructions issued by the health ministry that saw them keeping the social distancing, wearing face masks, and holding their events in open air places with way smaller groups than before.
In Iraq the day is even more special. People gathered at the holy shrine of Imam Hussein in the holy city of Karbala to mark the day. People distribute food in their "mawkebs", or roadside service stations. This year saw distribution of masks, as this was in Iran too.
In Lebanon, the commemoration ceremonies are more organized. People gather in an open air place in southern part of Beirut to remember the "symbol of freedom" as many agree, with the ceremony culminating in a speech delivered by Hezbollah'schiefSayed Hassan Nasrallah. For the Lebanese, especially the Shiites, the even was largely inspiring, encouraging them to mobilize their forces and resist the Israeli occupation since decades ago. It was a Shiite movement, Hezbollah, that forced the Israeli occupying troops from Lebanon in 2000. People in Lebanon associate the victory with their inspiration from Imam Hussein's rise against injustice and oppression.
In Yemen, where a war waged by Saudi Arabia is ongoing, people gather to mark the day. For them, the day is inspiring too. The large community of Shiites gather in the capital Sana'a to remember a man who said "never to humiliation" when he decided to stand in the face of the Caliph Yazid.
In Syria people gather in holy shrine of Zaynab, the sister of Imam Hussein, in the capital Damascus to celebrate the symbol of freedom. As security improves in the country, people more and more turn out to mark the day.
In Turkey same ceremony is held. In Istanbul, Kars and Iğdır, three cities with a high population of Shiites, thousands joined parades and commemoration programs for Imam Hussein, reported Daily Sabah newspaper.
The parades were also held in a set of other countries like Bahrain, Afghanistan, Nigeria, as were they in some of the European capitals.
