Massive crowds of mourners took to the streets in Iran to pay tribute to Imam Hussein (AS), who devoted his life to Islam in a battle in Karbala in 680 AD.

Men, women and children, dressed in black, have been holding mourning ceremonies since ten days ago to mark the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), and his uprising for justice.

Each year, the mourning rituals start with the Islamic lunar month of Muharram and reach their climax on the tenth day of the month, known as Ashura.

In Iran, as marking Ashura and Tasoua, people traditionally cooks votive food (called Nazri) and distribute it among their neighbors, family and poor people. Free food is also offered to people who perform the mourning rites.

This year, however, mourning ceremonies are different as large gatherings have been banned due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In Iran, people are taking part in outdoor events while observing social distancing rules imposed to help slow the virus spread.

Similar mourning ceremonies are being held in other Shiite communities across the world, including in Iraq, Lebanon and Bahrain.

In a bid to avoid virus transmission, Iraq’s Higher Committee for Health and Public Safety decided not to allow foreign pilgrims to enter the country and imposed a travel ban in its provinces.

The third Shiite Imam, along with 72 of his companions, was martyred in a battle against the second Umayyad caliph, Yazid ibn Muawiyah, in the Iraqi region of Karbala, after he refused to pledge allegiance to the ruling tyrant.

In an interview with the Tasnim News Agency, Sheikh Mohammad Hassan Khojasteh denounced the Bahraini regime forces’ removal of banners and flags, which have been set up for mourning events and Ashura, the 10th day of the lunar month of Muharram, as “offensive”.

He added that the regime has so far arrested dozens of people across the country protesting the move by the regime forces ahead of Muharram, noting that prisons in Bahrain are filled with innocent people.

The cleric further called on global human rights organizations to oversee jail’s conditions in Bahrain and reflect Manama regime’s repressive moves against Shiite Muslims in the kingdom.

Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf region, has been witnessing almost daily protests against the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty since early 2011, with Manama using heavy-handed measures in an attempt to crush the demonstrations.

Scores of Bahrainis have been killed and hundreds of others injured and arrested in the ongoing crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.