Two sentences of explanation, courtesy of the Jerusalem Post, will do: “A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim boy bleeds as he flagellates himself during a Muharram procession in Srinagar, India, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010. Muharram is a month of mourning in remembrance of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed.”
Culturally sanctioned forms of abuse are difficult to eradicate precisely because powerful cultural actors legitimate them. Unless and until there is widespread social change in this community it will be a long time before this practice is considered inappropriate (to say the least) for children - among the adults who encourage it.
ReplyDeleteTwo words for this and so much more emanating from the same source: BLOOD LUST.
ReplyDelete