Shiites in Lebanon and Bahrain mark Ashoura with bloody marches (GRAPHIC PHOTOS)

Associated Press Newswires | 3-24-02 | By BASSEM MROUE

[TheOtherOne]

This is sick. This is an insane people.

Blood streams down the backs of Shiite Muslims during a ritual of self-flagellation in Kabul, Afghanistan Sunday March 24, 2002. The ritual was performed as Shiites celebrated their holiest day, Ashura, which marks the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad. The men whip themselves with knives attached to chains to atone for Imam Hussein's death. The ritual was being performed openly for the first time since the overthrow of the Taliban, which had previously restricted the celebrations of the holy day. (AP Photo/Greg Baker)

Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim men raise their bloody swords, which they had used to beat themselves, during the ceremony of Ashoura held in Nabatiyeh village in south Lebanon, March 24, 2002. Shiite's in Lebanon commemorated the killing of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, by his rival over 1,400 years ago. REUTERS/str

A Shiite Muslim woman holds a three-year old boy whose forehead was cut during a ceremony in Nabatiyeh on Sunday March 24, 2002. Hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslims turned out across Lebanon on Sunday to mark Ashoura, the Shiite Muslim religious festival which marks the AD 680 battle in which Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Mohammed, was killed. (AP Photo)

A Lebanese Shiite Muslim hits his head with his hand to spread the blood from his self inflicted wound during a march in Nabatiyeh, Lebanon on Sunday March 24, 2002. Hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslims turned out across Lebanon on Sunday to mark Ashoura, the Shiite Muslim religious festival which marks the AD 680 battle in which Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Mohammed, was killed. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zatari)

Lebanese Shiite Muslims hit their heads with hands and swords during a march in Nabatiyeh, Lebanon on Sunday March 24, 2002. Hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslims turned out across Lebanon on Sunday to mark Ashoura, the Shiite Muslim religious festival which marks the AD 680 battle in which Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Mohammed, was killed. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zatari)

Moslem Shiite sect men beat themselves on the back with knives attached to chains as part of their religious belief in central Kandahar, Afghanistan, Sunday March 24, 2002. They beat themselves on the chest for the first 9 days of the Islamic calendar and on the 10th day they use knives and draw blood. This tenth day is the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of prophet Muhammad. (AP Photo/Adam Butler)

[ikka]

some slashing their heads and beating their chest to mourn the 7th century death of one of their most revered saints, Imam Hussein.

A little deeper and a little harder please.

[jerrymdss]

My, aren't these tough guys -- tough, stupid and backwards that is. No wonder why the middle-easter Islamics have been backsliding for the last 500 years!

[The Turbanator]

What a SICK cult. This is who we are fighting.

[Crowcreek]

I'm guessing they don't have many spontaneous converts . . .

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

ISLAM, Religion of Peace.

[Dakmar]

Nine out of ten mentally ill fanatics prefer Islam over all other religions.

[weikel]

Actually Bin Laden is Sunni Sunnis and Shiites hate each other.

[abner]

Does this mean that the Jews no longer need to kill people for their pastries?

/sarcasm/disgust...

[happygrl]

Why would any mother do that to a three year old ?

[SW6906]

We're supposed to understand, respect and tolerate their cultural diversity - especially the treatment of their children.......

[tomahawk]

Islam: The cult of death. A form of religious Fascism.

[dennisw]

LOL Crazier than bedbugs!!!

[weikel]

Yes it is.

[abner]

Is there a Shout commercial here?

"Nothing gets out protein, like protein".

[Light Speed]

This is nothing new..Lebanon has Historically been the seat of Human mutilation and religious depravity.
For those of you who know your biblical history well this form found its zenith in what is known as Ba-al worship.
Bloodletting..child and human sacrifice....for thousands of years...

No real mystery why it continues to this day...reason..its a spiritual dynamic...adopted by adherents..rationalized into thought finds expression in present forms..such as Human Martyrdom.

Jordan was nearly overthrown by the P.L.O. and Arafat...they drove them out..they went too..guess where?
Lebanon....result..Lebanon exploded into factional violence..Arab against Arab..against Christian..Jew and against western representation.
The violent nature of the land was bolstered and manipulated by Iran..from the early 80's Hizbullah has been the proxy org of Iranian terror directed at Israel.

The Spirit of this land will manifest itself soon....Bush has some tough descisions to make...Israel will not tolerate activity from this region.
This region will not tolerate America either...a big fight is coming soon folks...like the pictures above..it will get quite graphic!

[Sabramerican]

The Jews must have bombed then with Purim pastries.

[Registered]

LOL! I'd like to add a little radiation to that protein!

[abner]

Talk about clean!!!