The holy day of Ashura around the world

Shiite Muslims world over are observing Ashura, a holy day of mourning and the sect’s most important religious ceremony commemorating the death in 680 AD of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein.

Hussein was killed along with 72 friends and family members in the battle of Karbala, in present-day Iraq. Shiites contend that Hussein’s father Ali was unfairly passed over for leadership of the young Muslim caliphate after the death of the prophet.

Hussein’s death at Karbala was a crucial blow to their rebellion and one of the turning points that spawned Islam’s Sunni-Shiite divide.

Here is a look at some of the ceremonies taking place. (AP)

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