Shiite Muslimpilgrims wave Bahrain’s national flag on January 13, 2012 during a religious procession in the holy shrine city of Karbala, 110 kilometres (70 miles) south of Baghdad, which is gearing up for the climax of the annual mourning rituals of Arbaeen, marking 40 days after the Ashura anniversary commemorating the slaying of Imam Hussein, one of Shiite Islam’s most revered figures, in 680 AD. In recent days, throngs of Shiite mourners from various countries have overflowed Hussein’s shrine in Karbala, demonstrating their ritual guilt and remorse for not defending him by beating their heads and chests in rituals of self-flagellation. AFP PHOTO/MOHAMMED SAWAF (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED SAWAF/AFP/Getty Images)
