Mass Commemorations, Deep Divisions: Shiite Ashoura Remembrance Across the Globe

Shiite Muslims worldwide, including in Iran, commemorated Ashoura, marking the 7th-century martyrdom of Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. Symbolic processions took place, with millions traveling to Karbala. A deadly shooting at a Shiite mosque in Muscat highlighted the ongoing violence against Shiites, especially in Sunni-majority regions like Pakistan.

Shiite Muslims in Iran and around the world commemorated Ashoura on Tuesday, paying homage to the 7th-century martyrdom of Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, an event that gave rise to their faith. Tehran and other Iranian cities were adorned with symbols of piety and mourning, including red flags, black funeral tents, and grand processions featuring chest-beating and self-flagellation. Water was sprayed over mourners to counter the intense heat.

Iranian state TV reported that 6 million Iranian pilgrims traveled to Karbala, Iraq, where Hussein is entombed in a gold-domed shrine. In Muscat, Oman, a Shiite mosque shooting on Monday night left five dead and dozens wounded. Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack.

Shiites, who represent over 10 percent of the world's 1.8 billion Muslims, view Hussein as the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad. His death at the hands of Sunnis in Karbala created a lasting rift in Islam and continues to shape Shiite identity. In Pakistan, thousands of Shiites took to the streets in major cities, engaging in chest-beating and flagellation. Authorities deployed additional police to manage the processions on Wednesday. Despite being a minority in Sunni-majority Pakistan, Shiites remain the target of extremist Sunni militants.

(With inputs from agencies.)