Sunday’s Bombing in Karbala (كربلاء‎ ) (Sunday, May 7th, 2006)

Published by markfromireland in Previous Site at 5:19 pm. Skip down to comments or read the others.

Sunday’s bombing in the Shi’ite holy city of Karbala (كربلاء‎ ) is an ominous development that will be interpreted by many as an extreme provocation.

Karbala is dedicated to Imam Husayn - Husayn ibn Ali, the prophet’s grandson it is the site of the Battle of Karbala fought on Tenth of Muħarram in 61 A.H. (October 10, 680). During the course of the battle Imam Husayn, his baby son, and his followers were massacred. The child was killed in his father’s arms.

The city is the site of the Masjidu l-Hussayn - the Imam’s tomb and is considered by the Shia to be an extremely holy place superceded in importance only by Mecca, Medina and Najaf. As such it is a place of pilgrimage particularly during the festival of Ashoura and was the scene of the 2004 Ashoura Massacre.

This article from the September 2004 edition of Shianews describes the events leading up to the battle of Kerbala on 10 Muharram, 61 AH (October 10, 680,) and its aftermath:

A brief look at Kerbala

This microsite from the UK’s Channel4 “Karbala - City of Martyrs” has a lot of information compactly and well presented for those wanting to learn more.

markfromireland

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5 Responses to “ Sunday’s Bombing in Karbala (كربلاء‎ ) ” Comments RSS

  1. Mark from Ireland May 7, 2006 at 7:12 pm

    I’m publishing Monday’s article early as I’ll most likely be AFK.

  2. Griffon May 8, 2006 at 12:23 am

    Any chance this is payback for the helicopter downing in Basra?
    Or as a distraction from it?
    Or both?

  3. Mark from Ireland May 8, 2006 at 2:29 am

    I very much doubt it. The one thing an isolated garrison that doesn’t control the surrounding terrain is not going to do is pour aviation fuel on something that’s smouldering everywhere and has burst into flames in one or two places alaready.

    Any incident in either of the Holy Cities would make for some very nervous occupation commanders.

    Grand Ayatollah Sistani (correctly in my view) laid the blame for the Ashoura Massacre squarely at the lackadaiscal attitude of the American commander. A repeat is not something anybody wants.

    (Incidentally I’ve mailed declan and asked him to reply to the other part of your question on the preceding thread.)

    g’night folks very early start and a long day tomorrow.

  4. Griffon May 8, 2006 at 3:39 am

    Cheers, Mark.

    Interesting article placing Bush’s America in the context of world history here-

    http://www.uruknet.info/.?p=m23132&hd=0&size=1&l=e

  5. Mark from Ireland May 8, 2006 at 7:52 am

    Link given by griffon above:

    http://www.uruknet.info/.?p=m23132&hd=0&size=1&l=e

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