Ashura mourning rituals banned across Azerbaijan, expert says

Shia Muslims across Azerbaijan have reportedly been banned from holding Ashura mourning rituals – one of the most significant religious observances for Shi’ites, commemorating the tragic martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the third Shi’a Imam.

Commenting on the development, Iran specialist Vardan Voskanyan pointed to the Azerbaijani leadership's hypocrisy. “At every opportunity, the leader of Baku’s barbaric regime accuses Armenians of allegedly disrespecting Islamic sanctities in Artsakh,” he wrote on Telegram on Monday, calling the claims fabricated.

Voskanyan emphasized that not only were the Ashura ceremonies banned nationwide, but also the Azerbaijani authorities seized and desecrated Ashura mourning flags from worshippers. “This is nothing short of sacrilege,” he stressed, sharing a video that shows the incident.