October, 2007
London
Shia Muslims took to the streets of London in a self-flagellation ceremony to mark the "martyrdom of Ali, a cousin of Mohammed" as I was told, while standing alongside bemused members of the public.
They were chanting and beating their chests, both the old and young.
The chants were oddly hypnotic, and as I stood and took in what I was seeing, I became progressively shocked by this display, which I'd never expected to see in a Western city.
To see more pictures, please go to:
http://tanya-n.com/?p=86
9 responses
-
Noora said (14 Oct 2007):
it's mortadon not martyrdom .. interesting shot btw
-
Tanya Nagar said (14 Oct 2007):
Hi Noora - I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean by 'mortadon'.
'Martyrdom relates to Ali being the so-called martyr.. -
Nimai Wong gave props (22 Oct 2007):
..disturbing indeed. Excellent work.
-
Steven Kumpf said (23 Oct 2007):
I have to vote yeah... But old because religious zealots need to be shown for what they are.
-
Paige Rosalind said (25 Oct 2007):
Awww
-
Teresa Nabais said (30 Oct 2007):
A big Yeah!!!!
-
Robert Larson said (28 Nov 2007):
are those guys sporting iPod shuffles on arm bands?
;-) -
Tanya Nagar said (30 Nov 2007):
Robert - haha, that crossed my mind as well. : )
-
syedbuturabaskari abidi said (21 Jul 2009):
Most honourable users plz plz dont use any offensive language about any religion or any practise carried out by the followers of that particular religion.Whenever u see a strange thing which you have'nt seen before like hitting one's own head/back by knife/sword/chain n shedding blood or beating one's chest/head/face with palm in the mourning of Hazrat Imam Hussain AS grandson of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad(Peace be upon him & his progeny).......plz be 100% neutral n deeply research why the Shia Muslims do so ?...
