Thousands of Shia Muslims perform self-flagellation ritual

Thousands of Shia Muslims gathered in the Indian city of Srinagar on Saturday, to commemorate the Islamic holy day of Ashura, which marks the martyrdom of Hossein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammed. Dressed in black to symbolize the somber occasion, worshippers performed bloodletting and self-flagellation rituals, a practice only undertaken by some communities, and condemned by many Shia clerics. Others simply marched in a procession, some holding banners denouncing the recent Quran burnings in Europe.