On Ashura Day, activists call on to release political prisoners in Azerbaijan (+video)

On the mourning Ashura Day, mosques of Shiite Muslims throughout Azerbaijan held special services. The police prevented street marches and incidents; however, in the village of Nardaran, participants of mosque services voiced out political slogans.

In connection with the Ashura Day, many cities of Azerbaijan introduced enhanced security measures and restricted traffic near mosques in order to avoid jams.

Traditionally, the most populous ceremony was held in the sanctuary "Nardaran Feast" (it keeps the body of Ragima Khanum, a daughter of Musei Kazym, an Imam, a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed, revered by Shiite Muslims, note of the "Caucasian Knot"). About 8000 mosque-goers gathered there. They were singing songs of mourning and chanting religious slogans in honour of Imam Khusein and other Imams.

A group of young people demanded to release jailed Movsum Samedov, the leader of the Islamic Party, theologians Abgyuly Suleimanov and Talekh Bagirzade, the so-called "hijab prisoners" (persons arrested for taking part in protests against the ban on wearing hijabs in schools by schoolgirls, note of the "Caucasian Knot").

It should be noted here that the tradition to inflict to bleeding wounds to oneself on the Ashura Day is fading away. In recent years, it is replaced by donating blood. Most radical believers beat themselves with their palms at their chests.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.