...shedding of blood and self-mortification. The Taziyah ('renewal ' of the suffering of Husayn) became a part of cultural tradition in Azerbaijan. Traditionally, Ashura is composed of mourning rituals, passion plays re-enacting the martyrdom of Ali's son and the recitations from the Quran. The streets are full of people slapping their bodies and chanting. A few Shia Muslims flagellate themselves...