Warning Graphic

BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS

Pakistani Muslims cut themselves to shreds during brutal blood-letting ritual to mark death of Muhammad’s grandson

Thousands of Shia Muslims have been flagellating with blunt swords and chains in the bloody ritual

PAUL HARPER

Published: 21:56, 11 Oct 2016
Updated: 3:59, 12 Oct 2016

SHIA Muslims brutally slice their bodies open to mark the religious festival of Ashura in these graphic images.

Hundreds began flagellating themselves in Karachi, Pakistan, to commemorate the death of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson Imam Hussein.

Muharram procession in Islamabad — Millions of Muslims have been marking the religious festival - but Shias commemorate the occasion in a particularly bloody wayCredit: EPA

NINTCHDBPICT000273922608 — Shi Muslims say the point of this graphic and bloody ritual is to emphasise the suffering of the Prophet's grandsonCredit: AP:Associated Press

NINTCHDBPICT000273923381 — With blunt swords and chains, adult Shia males cut themselves to shreds on the streets of Karachi in PakistanCredit: AP:Associated Press

NINTCHDBPICT000273923193 — A young boy joins the graphic ritual swinging his chain in the air for a strike to mark the religious festivalCredit: AP:Associated Press

Muharram procession in Islamabad — Shia Muslims attend a mourning procession a day ahead of the commemoration of AshuraCredit: EPA

Hussein was killed during the 7th century Battle of Karbala in modern-day Iraq.

The death led to the current division between Shia and Sunni Muslims, who mark the event through fasting.

The controversial bloody rituals have also been staged in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Shia men have been pictured flagellating themselves with chains and blunt swords.

This highlights "the suffering of Hussein shortly before his beheading".

NINTCHDBPICT000273920506 — Pakistani paramilitary soldiers monitor the area from a pedestrian bridge while they guard a Shia Muslim's processionCredit: AP:Associated Press

NINTCHDBPICT000273919574 — During Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, ten days of mourning is observed by Shia MuslimsCredit: AP:Associated Press

Muharram procession in Islamabad — A young boy, perhaps little older than five-years-old, watches on during the brutal scenes in PakistanCredit: EPA

Muharram procession in Islamabad — Some religious leaders say the graphic scenes that result tend to paint Shia Muslims in a backward or negative lightCredit: EPA

On Saturday, an Egyptian national driving a garbage truck loaded with explosives and Islamic State papers rammed into a truck carrying five US soldiers in Kuwait. The bombs failed to explode and he only injured himself.

Kuwaiti authorities previously warned that they would be increasing security measures before Ashura.

Ashoura is marked on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar.

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