Afghans mark Muslim mourning

Ashura was severely restricted under the Taleban

By Kate Clark BBC correspondent in Kabul

Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai joined Shia Muslims in the capital Kabul to mark the ceremony of Ashura for the first time since the fall of the Taleban.

Ceremonies this year were large-scale

Ashura is the most sombre day in the Muslim calendar. Young Shia Afghan men beat themselves with their fists, with chains and with blades - mourning the martyrdom of Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, 1,300 years ago.

Bruised and bleeding, their grief is real.

But according to one woman, it has also been a day of freedom, "The Taleban wouldn't let women go out of their homes and they wouldn't let us mourn."

"But now freedom has come and the flag of Islam has been raised.

"We're happy that we can all come to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussein."

Shias victimised

Under the militantly Sunni Taleban, Afghan Shias were harassed and marginalised.

The Taleban and their al-Qaeda allies brutally punished resistance in Shia areas - massacring civilians and burning down whole villages - even schools and mosques.

Commemorating Ashura was difficult and dangerous. In this district of Kabul, Afshar, it hasn't been commemorated for 10 years.

Najib is just one of the many people who have recently returned.

"Before, under the mujahideen government, there was factional warfare and each faction targeted civilians in the name of their group - Tajiks or Pashtuns or Hazaras, Sunnis or Shias."

He says: "In this district, Afshar, we had to abandon our neighbourhood. Our homes were looted. We ran away with only our sandals."

They ran away while factional fighters went door to door in Afshar, killing and raping Shia civilians. People are only now coming home.

But reminders of the brutal civil war are everywhere.

The pictures of fallen factional leaders - remembered as martyrs by their followers - adorn cars and buildings.

After the Taleban

The iconic face of the Tajik leader, Ahmad Shah Massoud is everywhere and photos of the Shia Hazara leader, Abdul Ali Mazari, multiplied in the run-up to Ashura.

Men flail themselves with chains studded with hooks and blades

In the post-Taleban era, those factions are now back in power. People hope they can overcome their sectarian past, says Najib, "Now the factions have been united by the Bonn Peace Conference."

"They're working together in the interim government. That means we've been able to come home."

Hussein is honoured by all Muslims, but only Shias mourn him with this level intensity.

The fact that the Afghan interim leader, Hamid Karzai, who is a Sunni Muslim came to a ceremony was significant.

"Hussein died to protect truth and justice," Mr Karzai said, "He preferred martyrdom to living in shame."

People were pleased Mr Karzai had come.

"He said there is no difference between the religions of people," said Abdul Ali, "He said all the people are creatures of God, and gave wishes to Afghans that we may live a peaceful life."