Shia Muslims mark Ashura

An Afghan Shia Muslim boy holds a flag during a procession in Kabul Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters

A Shia Muslim walks on burning coals at a mosque in Rangoon, Burma Photograph: Reuters

A supporter of Lebanon's Amal movement beats himself in southern Beirut Photograph: Joseph Eid/AFP/Getty Images

An Afghan man cleans his blades in a bucket after beating himself in a ritual on the streets of Kabul Photograph: Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images

An Afghan man is comforted after beating himself with chains and blades in Kabul Photograph: Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images

Candles are lit in north Tehran, Iran Photograph: Caren Firouz/Reuters

A tent is burned down during Ashura ceremonies at a bazaar in Tehran Photograph: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images

Iranian Shia Muslims take part in a ritual in Tehran depicting the killing of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson Hussein Photograph: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images

Shia men beat themselves during a ritual at a Tehran mosque Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA

Women wave flags bearing a picture of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson Hussein outside a mosque in central Baghdad Photograph: Sabah Arar/AFP/Getty Images

A man takes part in Ashura commemorations in Beirut's southern suburbs Photograph: Joseph Eid/AFP/Getty Images

Lebanese Shia Muslims and supporters of Hezbollah march in Beirut Photograph: Anwar Amro/AFP/Getty Images

Shia men covered with blood take part in an Ashura procession in the Bahraini capital, Manama Photograph: Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters

An Afghan man beats himself as a crowd looks on in Kabul Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters

Shia Muslim women react as they watch men walking on fire in central Rangoon, Burma Photograph: Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters

Boys attend a mourning procession in Peshawar, Pakistan Photograph: ARSHAD ARBAB/EPA

Shia Muslims take part in a ritual at Tehran's Karbalaiya mosque Photograph: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images

Khorramabad, Iran: A man covered in mud stands by a fire to dry himself Photograph: Morteza Nikoubazl/Reuters

Nabatiyeh, Lebanon: A man bleeds after cutting his forehead with a razor during a ceremony Photograph: Ali Hashisho/Reuters

Khorramabad, Iran: A young girl wears a green headband, a symbol of the Imam Hussein family Photograph: Morteza Nikoubazl/Reuters

Peshawar, Pakistan: Doctors at the Lady Reading Hospital treat an infant who was injured in an attack on a Muharram procession Photograph: Fayaz Aziz/Reuters

Beirut, Lebanon: Muslim children chant slogans as they gesture during a Muharram procession organized by Hezbollah Photograph: Sharif Karim/Reuters

Peshawar, Pakistan: Shia Muslims chant anti-government slogans after an assailant threw an explosive device at a Muharram procession injuring people, two of them critically Photograph: Mohammad Sajjad/AP

Peshawar, Pakistan: Relatives weep as a man wounded in a grenade attack receives aid at a hospital Photograph: A Majeed/AFP/Getty Images

Istanbul, Turkey: Women take part in a procession Photograph: Mustafa Ozer/AFP/Getty Images