Large gatherings seen across the Middle East during Muslim holiday as fragile ceasefire holds
Ashoura, the holiest day for Shiite Muslims, takes place Friday, spurring large religious gatherings across the Muslim world, particularly in Iran where Shiites are the dominant religious group.
Ashoura commemorates the seventh-century killing of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and a seminal figure in Shiite theology.
The holiday is the culmination of a 10-day mourning period for Hussein, who is revered by Shiite Muslims as the ultimate martyr.
Large crowds gathered in Lebanon and Iraq on Friday, particularly in the Iraqi city of Karbala, where Hussein is buried.
Naim Kassem, the leader of the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, said in a speech Friday that Ashoura is being repeated again by the U.S. and Israel.
“America and Israel also wanted to eliminate Iran by removing the regime and controlling the country,” Kassem said. “The memorandum of understanding is a declaration of defeat for America and Israel,” he added.
The Associated Press contributed to this post.
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