Bloody scenes as Muslims flagellate themselves with chains and blades during procession in Peshawar
- GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING
- Photos taken on the streets of Peshawar, Pakistan show a group of Shiite Muslims completing self-flagellation
- For Shiite Muslims involved in the ritual, it is believed that self-flagellation washes away all of their sins
- The procession marked Ashura and commemorates the death of Hussein, grandson of Prophet Muhammad
Graphic photos have captured the scenes in Peshawar as Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves with chains and blades.
The Muslims carried out the flagellation today during a procession to mark Ashura, the ninth day of Muharram in the first month of the Islamic calendar.
For the Shiite Muslims, Ashura is also a major religious event where followers of the faith commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn Ibn Ali al-Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who died at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
The act of self-flagellation is seen as an act of washing away sins by those who carry out the ritual.
The pictures, taken in Pashawar, Pakistan, shows a group of Shiite Muslims wearing white trousers swinging swords and chains around to complete the flagellation.
Blood can be seen pouring from the backs of the men involved as a crowd watches.
A group of Shiite Muslims swing swords and chains around to complete the ritual of self-flagellation to mark Ashura
Blood pours from the backs of the men taking part in the flagellation as a large crowd watches on in the streets of Peshawar, Pakistan
The Shiite Muslims are seen hitting themselves, causing blood to soak down their bodies onto their white trousers
One man is captured mid-swing with a chain in hand. The act of self-flagellation is seen as a washing away of sins by those who carry it out
Shiite Muslims stood in the middle of a street in Peshawar, Pakistan, self-flagellate to makr the death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad
Hussein died at the Battle of Karbala in the seventh century and Shiite Muslims commemorate his death during Ashura
Blood is seen running down the face of a man during self-flagellation in Peshawar, Pakistan. The man’s hand is covered in blood and another man stood behind in a black shirt also has his face covered in blood
Deep cuts can be seen on the back of one man on the streets of Peshawar as a group of Shiite Muslims complete the ritual of self-flagellation
The ritual of self-flagellation takes place during the holy month of Muharram, which reaches it conclusion with the Ashura festival
A large crowd gathers in Peshawar to watch a group of Shiite Muslims self-flagellate themselves to wash away their sins
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