Today concluded the final day of Ashura, an islamic holiday which comemorates the marytrdom of Hasayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the prophet Mohammad. It is celebrated world wide by devout Shia muslims, and is observed through fast by Sunni Muslims. As part of tradition, Shia men flagellate themselves as a blood sacrifice to mourn the death of Hasayn. Unexpectedly, bomb blasts in Afghanistan led to more than intended bloodshed, the death of 55 worshipers, and left 134 wounded. Although the Taliban has yet to come forward to claim the attack, many believe they are responsible. It is the first time insurgents have attacked on such a religious holiday. In neighboring Pakistan, Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik thanked the country's Taliban militants for not staging attacks during the holiday. What I fail to understand is why the Taliban, a strict religiously devote group of militant insurgents, would ever attack during a holiday that the Prophet said to keep holy. Or why the government of a nation should feel the need to thank the bastards. Because of their actions, Afghani civilians who might have been sympathetic to the Taliban have raised their voices to condemn their actions. Hopefully this will lead to a change in authority in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Bellow are some links on the event and some history
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/12/06/afghanistan_bombing_ashura?page=0,15
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_of_Muharram
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/canada-in-afghanistan/dead+Afghan+shrine+blasts/5816734/story.html
http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2011/12/06/pakistani-minister-thanks-taliban-for-peace-on-ashura-day/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Ashura
Weekly Vocab
encomium-n. a formal eulogy or speech of praise
impecunious-adj. penniless; poor
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