TEHRAN Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali s of three branches of the government as well as millions of Muslims in and outside Iran held ceremonies to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hossein (AS), the third infallible Imam of Prophet Mohammad's (S) household.

Large groups of people in Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Moscow, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Washington, New York, Afghanistan, the UAE, Athens, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, Austria, Italy, Sarajevo, Tajikistan, North Korea, China, Libya, Lebanon and Southeast Asian states, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand attended the ceremonies held at streets and religious centers.

The mourners, clad in black, beat their chests, sang eulogies, and listened to speeches by preachers on the tragic occasion and philosophy of Ashura uprising.

They also attended congregational noon and afternoon prayers on Thursday.

Besides local citizens, Muslims from other countries, including Iran, were also present at the ceremonies.

The ceremonies also featured special shows staged for the viewers to commemorate the horrible events of the age of the infallible Imam.

Meanwhile, Islamic Iran too once again saluted the 'Lord of Martyrs' (Seyed al-Shohada), Imam Hossein (AS) in a befitting manner on Thursday.

This year, as always, Iran is in the month of mourning which for the last fourteen centuries has been kept alive by the message of freedom of the grandson of the holy Prophet of Islam (peace upon him and his household) inscribed in sacred blood in the sands of Karbala.

Tehran and other towns and cities across the country are all draped in black, as a mark of respect for the martyrs whose blood triumphed over the swords of their assassins.

Mosques, Husseiniyehs and Takiyehs are organizing special discourses at which prominent scholars recount to the faithful the different aspects of the struggle between faith and evil.

In addition, at most major intersections, people have put up tents on sidewalks to hold the traditional mourning ceremonies for Imam Hossein (AS).

The mourning ceremonies for Imam Hossein (AS) have aroused sympathies even in the coldest heart, and many a non-Muslim reformer has modeled his struggle on the life of the 'Martyr of Karbala'.

The heroic martyrdom of the Prophet's (S) younger grandson has served as catalyst ever since, inspiring reformers and revolutionary movements in Islamic lands against the forces of darkness.