Lebanon's Shiite Muslims mark Ashura as parallels drawn with plight of Gaza

The day commemorates the death of Imam Hussein in the 7th century

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Shiite Muslims in Lebanon on Wednesday commemorated Ashura, an annual religious day associated with suffering and the struggle against injustice, as many drew parallels with the suffering in Gaza today.

Ashura is one of the holiest days of the year for Shiite Muslims. They mourn the death of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson, Imam Hussein bin Ali, an early leader in their faith who was martyred at the Battle of Karbala against the Umayyad caliph in 680 AD.

In the Shiite community, the death of Imam Hussein is a symbol of the struggle against injustice, and many of those marching on Wednesday said they were thinking of the plight of Palestinians in Gaza after more than nine months of Israel's war in the enclave.

“Throughout our lives we are raised that we should not give up on the oppressed,” said Zahra, holding a picture of her cousin Ali Hodroj, a Hezbollah fighter who was killed in an Israeli attack near his home in Al Bazourieh in south Lebanon in January.

“Especially this year it is very important because the world is being blind to what is happening to Gaza. It is very important to say you are not alone … seeing all this happen and saying nothing, we couldn't,” Zahra told The National at the Ashura procession.

Thousands attended the procession in Beirut's southern suburbs, the area known as Dahieh that is home to many Shiite Muslims, where Lebanese armed group and political party Hezbollah retains strong support. Rallies organised by Hezbollah often seek to make a political statement and show its ability to rally crowds.

The group has been engaged since October 8 in daily cross-border clashes with Israel of ever-increasing intensity in parallel with the war on Gaza.

Nearly 39,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel in Gaza since October.

A speech by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is screened during the Ashura procession in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. AP

The procession through Dahieh saw people hold portraits of top Shiite clerics and leaders, while also paying tribute to the hundreds of Hezbollah fighters who have been killed in south Lebanon since the clashes began. Dozens of civilians have also been killed.

Most of the attendees were dressed in all black, as is customary for Ashura processions.

Many waved Hezbollah flags as well as flags from other Shiite political and militant organisations.

Initially, people sat on the ground to mourn Imam Hussein before beginning the procession, with food and water handed out. Sitting to the side in wheelchairs were a handful of injured, fighting aged men.

Hezbollah deputy Secretary General Naim Qassem and Hashem Safieddine, the head of Hezbollah's Executive Council, were among the senior leaders present.

Hezbollah Executive Council chief Hashem Safieddine, centre left, and Hezbollah deputy leader, Naim Qassem, centre right, attend an Ashura event in Beirut. EPA

While the event in Beirut was packed, commerations in south Lebanon, which is also home to many Shiite Muslims, were either cancelled or toned down amid the conflict. Around 100,000 people have been displaced in south Lebanon by fighting, which has caused large-scale devastation in many border villages.

Multiple civilians have been killed in south Lebanon by Israeli attacks, something Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah referred to in a speech after the Ashura procession.

“Continuing to target civilians will push the Resistance to launch missiles at settlements that were not previously targeted,” Mr Nasrallah said.

Israel has approved plans for a land invasion of south Lebanon in a bid to clear the area of Hezbollah, but has not made a decision whether to act on them yet.

“If your tanks came to Lebanon and southern Lebanon … you won't have any left,” Mr Nasrallah said.

Hezbollah says it does not want a full war but is ready for one if it is imposed on Lebanon. It is also demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, from where its Palestinian ally Hamas launched an unprecedented incursion into south Israel on October 7.