After war with Israel, Hezbollah and Lebanon's Shia community mourn those lost and call for justice
Shia Muslims commemorate Ashura to honour the martyrdom of Hussein. In Lebanon, the Shia community unites in the face of Israeli attacks, vowing to endure.
11 July 2025
Nabatieh, Lebanon — Groups of men clad in white rhythmically tapped the blades of their swords against their bloodied foreheads as they marched through Nabatieh’s historic city centre. Women dressed in black followed in solemn procession, while others watched from the sidelines, some with tears in their eyes.
The ceremony, held on Sunday, was one of many across Lebanon marking Ashura, an annual religious event where Shia Muslims commemorate the death of Imam Hussein in the 680AD Battle of Karbala, in modern-day Iraq.
For Lebanon’s Shia community, which makes up around one-third of the population, the memory of Imam Hussein’s death remains a powerful symbol of martyrdom and resistance against oppression.
“Imam Hussein is not just for the Shia or Sunnis, he’s for the entire world, representing dignity for all,” 19-year-old Selin Huzairi told The New Arab, attending the ceremony in Nabatieh with her sister and father. “Our message during Ashura is about standing up for your rights,” she said.
This year’s Ashura, and the retellings of the Battle of Karbala, felt particularly vivid, unfolding in the shadow of Israel’s ongoing escalation in Lebanon, which has killed more than 4,000 people. “Ashura keeps the memory of our struggles alive,” Huzairi said. “No matter what [Israel] destroys, we will remain strong and continue to support the truth,” she said, before turning to rejoin the crowd.