Some Shiite Children Are Into Bloody Rite

Actors perform Tazieh, a traditional theater scene about Imam Hussein, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007. During rituals on the holy day of Ashoura, Iranians Muslims mark the death of Imam Hussein, a grand son of Islam's prophet Mohammed, who was killed in a 680 A.D. battle at Karbala in Iraq. Green veiled children represent Imam Hussein's family and red veiled men represent enemies. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) (Vahid Salemi - AP)

In the Ashoura rites, Shiites march in huge processions, beating their chests in mourning for Hussein's martyrdom at Karbala _ a city in present-day Iraq _ in A.D. 680. The most fervent cut themselves with swords or razors or lash themselves with razor-lined chains to draw blood.

The bloodletting is a reminder of Hussein's suffering, as well as punishment for the failure of Muslims to help Hussein in his battle against Islamic ruler Yazid, leader of what became the majority Sunni branch of Islam.

Hussein was the son of Ali, the Prophet Muhammad's cousin, who Shiites believe should have been his rightful successor. The loss at Karbala effectively consigned Shiites to minority status in the Islamic world _ and it became a symbol of the sense of oppression that runs through the sect's beliefs.

Women in Ashoura processions usually confine themselves to striking their chests with their fists, without drawing blood. But in Shiite areas of Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India and elsewhere, processions of men marched drenched in blood _ along with boys.

In the Nabatiyeh hall, splashes of bright red blood covered the floor from the cutting. Some of the children held back tears and tried to put on a brave face as Hajj Khodor sliced the skin of their foreheads.

Their reward was fruit juice and cookies.

A father shoved a pacifier into his toddler's screaming mouth, the boy's forehead stained with blood.

Ali Madani's screams did not save the 6-year-old from the razor blade. His father, Bilal Madani, said his son was crying because the smell of blood scared him.

Afterward, Ali said he was happy he had gone through with it _ "for Hussein's sake."

What did he expect in return?

"God will make me do well in school," he said, sipping juice from a straw.

Hajj Khodor, wrapped in white and wearing a white turban, said he has done cuttings on boys as young as 1-month-old and men as old as 100.

Asked if it was difficult for him to hurt the children, he said: "The child doesn't understand what's going on. The parents are faithful and believe by doing this, their children will be protected and will enjoy a long life."

Hind Abinabi, a 52-year-old Shiite woman and mother of four, said to maim children was not only cruel, but also against the religion. "When the rest of the world is going to the moon, look where these people are _ still drawing blood from their heads," she said.

One boy's screams and resistance Tuesday did pay off.

"No, no, I don't want it," the terrified boy kept yelling at the top of his voice. After a few failed attempts, his mother quietly walked him down the stairs and out of the hall.