Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, Iran and other countries observe Muharram.
Millions of Shia Muslims on Friday marked the climax of the annual ritual of Ashura with expressions of suffering where they mourn the slaying of Imam Hussain, grandson of the Prophet Muhammed. Imam Hussain was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar.
Shia Muslims across the world mourn the death of the Imam on this day which is called Ashura. They mark Muharram by flagellating themselves with sharp objects, a practice which has discouraged by many Shia clerics
1. Bahrain
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Bahraini Shiite Muslim bleeds after he flagellated himself during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Manama, Bahrain September 20, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
2. Bahrain
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Bahraini Shiite Muslims bleed after they flagellated themselves during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Manama, Bahrain September 20, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
3. Bahrain
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Bahraini Shiite Muslims bleed after they flagellated themselves during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Manama, Bahrain September 20, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
4. Iran
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Iranian Shiite Muslims watch as they gather by a tent during the reenactment of the Battle of Karbala, in Tehran on September 20, 2018, during the annual Ashura commemorations marking the killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islams Prophet Mohammed. - Ashura is commemorated by Shiite Muslims worldwide and marks the climax of mourning rituals in the Islamic month of Muharram for the slain Imam Hussein. (Photo by STR / AFP)
5. Iraq
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Iraqi women light up candles in mourning as they commemorate Ashura in the central holy shrine city of Karbala on September 20, 2018. - The day of Ashura is commemorated by Shiite Muslims worldwide and marks the climax of mourning rituals in the Islamic month of Muharram for the 7th century killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. (Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP)
6. Pakistan
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Pakistani Shiite Muslims during a religious procession on the ninth day of holy Islamic month of Moharram in Islamabad on September 20, 2018. - The Islamic month of Muharram marks the seven-century martyrdom of Prophet Mohammads grandson Imam Hussein who was killed in battle in Karbala in Iraq 680 AD. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
7. Pakistan
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A Pakistani Shiite Muslim drinks water after flagellating himself during a religious procession on the ninth day of holy Islamic month of Moharram in Islamabad on September 20, 2018. - The Islamic month of Muharram marks the seven-century martyrdom of Prophet Mohammads grandson Imam Hussein who was killed in battle in Karbala in Iraq 680 AD. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
8. Iraq
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Iraqi women light up candles in mourning as they commemorate Ashura in the central holy shrine city of Karbala on September 20, 2018. - The day of Ashura is commemorated by Shiite Muslims worldwide and marks the climax of mourning rituals in the Islamic month of Muharram for the 7th century killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. (Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP)
9. Pakistan
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Pakistani Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves during a religious procession on the ninth day of holy Islamic month of Moharram in Islamabad on September 20, 2018. - The Islamic month of Muharram marks the seven-century martyrdom of Prophet Mohammads grandson Imam Hussein who was killed in battle in Karbala in Iraq 680 AD. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)
10. Lebanon
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A Lebanese Shiite Muslim man carries a sword as he bleeds after he was cut on the forehead with a razor during a religious procession to mark Ashura in Nabatiyeh town, southern Lebanon September 20, 2018. REUTERS/ Ali Hashisho
