Shi’ites of Moscow were denied permission to celebrate Ashura in one of Moscow’s largest and most important mosques on October 12th. The mosque was nonetheless guarded by special forces and had metal detectors set up outside its entrance. The Shi’ite community of Moscow instead celebrated the holiday in the Islamic Cultural Center of Moscow, and in several smaller mosques, reported the “Caucasian Knot.”
For nearly the past 20 years, the Shi’ite community of Moscow has been celebrating Ashura within the walls of this historic building. This yera, however, religious Muslim organization ‘Ahl-e Beyt’ received a notice forbidding the conducting of religious mourning ceremonies within the mosque in question. “Sova” (Owl) Center had earlier reported that in the beginning of October, several fist – fights and altercations took place as a result of the ban on religious ceremonies during the highly important month of Muharram.
Muharram is the first month of the Muslim lunar calendar (hijri). In the first 10 days of Muharram, Shi’ites observe days of mourning for the grandson of Muhammad – Imam Husein, who was killed on the 10th of Muharram in 680 in a battle with an army of the Khalif. The 10th day of the month of Muharram is called ‘ashura’, which marks the culmination of the annual mourning process. In memory of his martyrdom, Shi’ite communities hold a mourning ceremony, ta’zieh.
After midday namaz (prayer), few people remained in the mosque. Special forces busses were noted outside the mosque’s territory. Generally, this happens during Friday prayer.
More than 3,000 people attended the mourning ceremony in the Islamic Cultural Center. About 100 people came to observe Ashura at the Iranian embassy in Moscow.
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This article was originally published in Russian by the
Caucasian Knot.
