Kabul Planning Special Measures to Ensure Security of Muharram Mourning Rituals
Nosrat Rahimi said the police in coordination with the defense ministry and intelligence agencies have adopted special measures for Muharram ceremonies, Sedaye Afghan news agency reported.
He called on Shia mourners to cooperate with security forces and immediately inform police if they see any suspicious activities.
Muharram is the first month in the lunar Hijri calendar.
Shia Muslims, and others in different parts of the world, hold ceremonies every year in the month of Muharram to mourn the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions.
The third Shia Imam (AS) and a small group of his followers and family members were martyred by the tyrant of his time - Yazid Bin Moaweya, in the battle of Karbala on the tenth day of Muharram (known as Ashura) in the year 680 AD.
This year, Muharram began on Sunday, September 1.
Afghanistan is a Muslim majority country in Asia. Shia Islam in Afghanistan is practiced by a minority of the population; estimates vary from 7% to 15% or 20%.
