‘Mourning Day’ of Shi`a

Shi`ite Muslims gathered at the temple for Imam Hussein in the Holy Land, Karbala, to commemorate the “Mourning Day” (Ashura, March 2) on February 29. Ashura is the day that the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein, was murdered in 680 in Karbala. Shi’ite Islam held a liberal anniversary for the first time after expelling Saddam Hussein.