KARBALA – At least 16 pilgrims killed on Tuesday in a stampede at a majorshrine in the Iraqi city of Karbala as they marked the holy day of Ashura,the health ministry said.
Another 75 people were injured at the shrine around 100 kilometres (60miles) south of Baghdad, said spokesman Saif al-Badr, stressing that thetoll was not final.
It is the deadliest stampede in recent history during Ashura, when Shiapilgrims from around the world swarm Karbala to commemorate the martyrdomof Hussein — Prophet Muhammed’s (PBUH) grandson.
He was killed in the year 680 by the forces of then ruler Yazid, a majorevent which helped solidify the divide between what would become Islam’sSunni and Shia branches.
On Tuesday, packed processions of black-clad worshipers made their way tohis gold-domed shrine in Karbala, carrying black flags with “Hussein”written in red and wailing loudly.
Some whipped their backs and chests to demonstrate their sorrow. Others —even young boys — cut incisions into their foreheads with scalpels or largesabres, leaving streams of blood cascading down their faces.
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Similar ceremonies took place in the capital Baghdad and in the southerncities of Najaf and Basra.
Under ex-dictator Saddam Hussein’s Sunni-dominated regime, the vastmajority of Ashura commemorations were banned. Now, the day is a nationalholiday, with streets across the country shuttered to allow for elaboratere-enactments of the Battle of Karbala.
In 2005, at least 965 pilgrims heading to the Imam Kadhim shrine in Baghdadduring a different holiday died after rumours of a suicide bomber in thecrowd sparked a mass stampede. -APP/AFP
