Karbala, Iraq

This was taken by Ozier Muhammad outside the mosque housing the tomb of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and founder of the Shiite sect of Islam. It was the first celebration of Arba'een since the fall of Saddam Hussein. Arba'een marks the 40th day after Hussein's death when his family, taken captive by his killers and then pardoned, returned to his grave.


Ozier also took this photo. The Shiites commemorate the death of Hussein by beating themselves to atone for the collective guilt of their ancestors who failed to come to Hussein's aid. The most extreme strike themselves over the head with swords. Ozier, incidentally, is a grandson of Elijah Muhammad, the founder of the Nation of Islam.