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Iranian Mothers Hold Babies Aloft in Annual Hosseini Ceremony as Anti-Western Chants Go Viral

Held on June 27 in Tehran, the ceremony recalled Ali Asghar’s 680 A.D. martyrdom as an affirmation of defiance against U.S. and Israeli adversaries

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Overview

  • Hundreds of mothers lifted their infants above their heads during the annual Hosseini Infants Ceremony, symbolizing readiness to offer children as martyrs for God and Imam Husayn.
  • The June 27 gathering marked the first Friday of Muharram and commemorated Imam Husayn’s six-month-old son, Ali Asghar, who was killed during the Battle of Karbala.
  • Participants chanted “death to America, death to Israel,” using the ritual to reinforce political resistance alongside its religious significance.
  • Footage of the ritual spread rapidly on social media, drawing global attention to Iran’s state-aligned expressions of solidarity and sacrifice.
  • A mother interviewed by CNN said participants would support the state until perceived enemies are destroyed as a testament to their devotion to Imam Husayn.