Lebanese Shiites fear Salafist terrorism during Ashoura
This year, the Salafist practice of targeting Shiite Ashoura processions in Iraq may spread to Lebanon.
Each year, during the first 10 days of the month of Muharram — according to the Islamic calendar — Shiite Muslims commemorate the death of Imam Hussein bin Ali, who was the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, the son of Imam Ali (the husband of the prophet’s daughter) and one of the 12 imams who are held in the highest esteem among Shiites.
Hussein was killed in the year 680, when the army of Yazid bin Muawiya cut off the road that Hussein was on as he was going to Iraq. According to the narrative, Hussein sought to save his grandfather’s religion from the misguided Umayyad rule.
