This year’s observance of Ashoura — one of the most significant holy days in Shiite Islam — was profoundly shaped by ongoing conflict and grief in both Lebanon and Iran. The day commemorates the death of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in a battle in 680 A.D.
In Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut, tens of thousands of people came together in coordinated processions, striking their chests in mourning — not only for Hussein, but also for family members and friends lost during the recent fighting between the Hezbollah militant group and Israel.
In the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh, smaller ceremonies took place amid visible destruction left behind by Israeli airstrikes. The fragility of the current ceasefire was made clear when smoke rose from a fresh airstrike on the city’s outskirts. Some participants observed a traditional ritual that involves making ceremonial cuts to their heads as an act of mourning.
Meanwhile, in Tehran, the capital of Iran, large crowds gathered for processions and religious ceremonies. Many participants beat their heads and chests in mourning, while others carrying torches set fire to tents in a dramatic reenactment of the ancient battle in which Hussein was slain.
The images presented here were curated by Associated Press photo editors.
