Posted on 03/02/2004 7:11:12 PM PST by yonif
Shiite Muslim Mohammed Jomahaa cuts the head of his son with a sword during the annual ritual to mark Ashoura Day in the southern Lebanese town of Nabatiyeh, Tuesday March 2, 2004. Ashoura day marks the Shiite Muslim's commemoration of the 7th century killing of their most revered Saint Imam Hussein. Al Hussein was a grandson of Islam's prophet Mohammed and is a symbol of martyrdom for Shiites. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A group of Shiite Muslim youths hit their heads with swords and razors during the annual ritual to mark Ashoura Day in the southern Lebanese town of Nabatiyeh, Tuesday March 2, 2004. Ashoura day marks the Shiite Muslim's commemoration of the 7th century killing of their most revered Saint Imam Hussein. Al Hussein was a grandson of Islam's prophet Mohammed and is a symbol of martyrdom for Shiites. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Shiite Muslim child Mahmoud Slieman after his mother cut him with a sword during the annual ritual to mark Ashoura Day in the southern Lebanese town of Nabatiyeh, Tuesday March 2, 2004. Ashoura day marks the Shiite Muslim's commemoration of the 7th century killing of their most revered Saint Imam Hussein. Al Hussein was a grandson of Islam's prophet Mohammed and is a symbol of martyrdom for Shiites. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Bleeding Iraqi Shiite Muslims chant and raise daggars and swords, after repeatedly hitting their heads with the blades to show religious devotion, during the annual ritual marking Ashoua Day, in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, Iraq (news - web sites), Tuesday, March 2, 2004. Tens of thousands of Shiites from around the world have gathered with Iraqis for the religious festival on the anniversary of the battle of 680 AD in which Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Mohammed, was killed. After decades of repression by Saddam's regime, Shiites are now free to observe such rituals as vigorously as they choose. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)
Iraqi Shiite Muslims hit their heads with swords during the annual ritual to mark Ashoura Day inside the Imam Hussein holy shrine in Karbala, Iraq (news - web sites), Tuesday March 2, 2004. Some Shiites consider the practice a testament to their devotion. To them, children, like adults, should take part in the rituals. Hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslims from around the world are gathering with Iraqis for the Shiite religious festival which marks the battle of year 680 A.D. in which Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Mohammed, was killed. During the rule of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), such rituals were banned in Iraq.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
An Iraqi Shiite Muslim hits his head with a sword during the annual ritual to mark Ashoura Day in Karbala, Iraq (news - web sites), Tuesday March 2, 2004. Some Shiites consider the practice a testament to their devotion. To them, children, like adults, should take part in the rituals. Hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslims from around the world are gathering with Iraqis for the Shiite religious festival which marks the battle of year 680 A.D. in which Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Mohammed, was killed. During the rule of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), such rituals were banned in Iraq.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
An Iraqi Shiite Muslim hits his bloodied head with his hand during the annual ritual to mark Ashoura Day in Karbala, Iraq (news - web sites), Tuesday March 2, 2004. Some Shiites consider the practice a testament to their devotion. To them, children, like adults, should take part in the rituals. Hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslims from around the world are gathering with Iraqis for the Shiite religious festival which marks the battle of year 680 A.D. in which Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Mohammed, was killed. During the rule of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), such rituals were banned in Iraq.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim boy beats himself with chains and whips during the Muharram procession in the downtown area of Srinagar, India, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2004. Muharram is a month of mourning when Shiite Muslims observe the seventh-century death of Hussein, grandson of Islams prophet, Muhammed. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Kashmiri Shiite Muslim mourners beat themselves during the Muharram procession in the downtown area of Srinagar, India, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2004. Muharram is a month of mourning when Shiite Muslims observe the seventh-century death of Hussein, grandson of Islams prophet, Muhammed. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
A Shiite Muslim beats himself with knife blades attached to chains as a form of self-punishment during a Muharram procession in Kabul, Afghanistan (news - web sites), Friday, Feb 27, 2004. Muharram is the mourning month for Shiite muslims in remembrance of the seventh-century death of Hussein, the grandson of Islam's prophet, Mohammed. (AP Photo/Ed Wray)
Shiite Muslims beat themselves with razor blades attatched to chains on the street as a form of self-punishment during a Muharram procession in Kabul, Afghanistan (news - web sites), Friday, Feb 27, 2004. Muharram is the mourning month for Shiite muslims in remembrance of the seventh-century death of Hussein, the grandson of Islam's prophet, Mohammed. (Ap photo Amir Shah)
I do hope the moderator will refrain from doing that here. I would argue that the redeeming value lies in the power these images have to force people who are in denial about the matter to see islam for what it is: Not a religion of peace at all, but a bloody, backward, medieval cult.
Shiites are a relatively small and declining minority of muslims, and have many internal divisions. In some countries (Iraq and Iran) they are in the majority. In most others they are a minority... in Iraq and Afghanistan they were persecuted under the old governments.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
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