I am more proud then ever to call myself secular after reading this article. What kind of barbary is this? we are in 2011, almost 2012...not the 13th century...we are up against a difficult enemy oh civilization

Sheesh. When you are willing to spill your own blood, its not so hard to spill anothers.

Any theology that teaches such a barbaric form of Affliction is mindless and backward: truly ignorant of human potentiality and reason. It does ZERO for the individual and most certainly breeds callousness and insensitivity. Perhaps in ten thousand years the muslims will be ready to join humanity. This is a disgrace.

ashura is that allah saved moses from pharaoh and the survival of noah with his ship ,not grief over hussien.

violent. There was a day observing the bravery of the Prophet's grandson two days ago. A small march down Park Avenue and everything. No whipping or anything violent though. At first I thought it was a Hizbollah rally until I went down to see it. I wore my IDF shirt, jewish keffiyeh and Israel jacket for nothing as the march didn't have any visible political messages, but none of the people there had anything to say, so I kept the Israeli flag I had in my pocket. Take note of how tolerant our city is, Iranian readers. On another note, isn't there a similar Catholic ritual?

to themselves, and cut babies even (not shown here TG) it is so gross, sickening. Mourn by all means but do as the catholic priests/monks do...flog in private. Just proves what a blood thirsty culture this is.

It is only unimaginable in the minds of those who dont understand i.e. the ignorant and arrogant. proplefrar what they dont understand. are you sure you want to go up agains Iran??

YO , 'cause tonight ,we will have a fright ,to fight with those shiites, who said might is right ,don't be too uptight let's right a wrong the long fight . I am high as a kite ,Who gives a shiite cos their dog don't bite .

cut their own heads. My guess is probably not. They have these idiots doing it and probably laughing at them all day long. Can the world make piece with these troubled people? Can anyone imagine if any of these morons gets their hand on a nuke what would happen to the world?

I wonder if they are celebrating Ashura in the White House this year Hussein as a middle name suggest the named person id Shi-ite as Hussein was the prophet's , alav hasholum , grandson

Whipround ,but this ashur is ridiculous.

Beating the meat ,bashing the bishop ,flogging the frog ,slapping the monkey .All violent and leads to poor eyesight and hairy palms.

I hope they will start celebrating this glorious day every day of the year and will leave the rest of the world alone.

Is this much different than orthodox Catholics in the Philipines having themselves nailed to crosses at Easter? Thank goodness the most bizarre practice that takes place in Judaism is the swinging of a chicken over one's head and saying the prayer of Kapporot? And it's not mainstream!

....the 7th century.

You are as sick as they are.

WE WILL SOON WITH GREAT PRIDE AND TREMENDOUS RESOLVE... The enemies of democracy and freedom will be crushed and blown to hell for an eternity.

Lighten up will you. # 16 is joking.

''proplefrar'' what does this mean in English?

are inventing their own language. Do they care about the language of Shakespeare, Byron, etc..? Nope... A bunch of the illiterate throwbacks are creeping in from the gutters of their native lands.

what a bunch of barbarians

what your article forgot to say is that for mainstream muslims Shia's are heretics and are therefore outcasted !