Margins of Mourning - Ashura

Attending and documenting the Ashura ceremony in a self-organized Shia mosque in the industrial outskirts of Athens was a deeply moving experience.

A girl stands in front of a stage illuminated by lights during a concert in Athens, Greece on April 5, 2025. The event was organized by student unions in solidarity with the families of the victims of the Tempi tragedy.

Rather than remaining observers, we were welcomed with warmth into an intimate space of mourning and reflection. Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, is not simply a ritual but a powerful expression of faith, resistance, and community. The simplicity of the converted industrial space stood in contrast to the ornate religious architecture I am accustomed to.

With no official recognition, such mosques are created out of necessity by immigrant communities who lack access to formal religious institutions.

Athens, despite being a European capital, long had no official mosque that truly served its diverse Muslim population. These unofficial spaces represent resilience and dignity, offering a place where communities can gather, maintain tradition, and find belonging.

Photographing this moment revealed a universal need for connection and meaning.

Men prepare a horse for the rituals beside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The horse symbolizes Zuljanah, the mount of Imam Husayn, and its presence is part of the Ashura commemorations honoring his marty

Men prepare a horse for the rituals beside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The horse symbolizes Zuljanah, the mount of Imam Husayn, and its presence is part of the Ashura commemorations honoring his martyrdom.

A man walks up the stairs inside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The moment takes place during the Ashura commemorations honoring the martyrdom of Imam Husayn.

A man walks up the stairs inside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The moment takes place during the Ashura commemorations honoring the martyrdom of Imam Husayn.

Men prepare a symbolic child’s coffin beside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The coffin represents the martyrdom of Ali Asghar, the infant son of Imam Husayn, and is part of the Ashura commemorations hono

Men prepare a symbolic child’s coffin beside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The coffin represents the martyrdom of Ali Asghar, the infant son of Imam Husayn, and is part of the Ashura commemorations honoring his sacrifice at Karbala.

Flowers are placed on a fabric inside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The flowers are part of the preparations for the Ashura rituals, symbolizing respect and remembrance for the martyrs of Karbala.

Flowers are placed on a fabric inside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The flowers are part of the preparations for the Ashura rituals, symbolizing respect and remembrance for the martyrs of Karbala.

Men cut watermelons outside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The activity is part of the Ashura preparations, providing food and drinks for participants commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husayn.

Men cut watermelons outside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The activity is part of the Ashura preparations, providing food and drinks for participants commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husayn.

A man places a flag on the fence outside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The act is part of the Ashura preparations, marking the commemoration of Imam Husayn’s martyrdom.

A man places a flag on the fence outside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The act is part of the Ashura preparations, marking the commemoration of Imam Husayn’s martyrdom.

Men raise their hands and perform rhythmic chest-beating beside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The ritual, called latm or matam, involves men chanting elegies while striking their chests in unison to mou

Men raise their hands and perform rhythmic chest-beating beside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The ritual, called latm or matam, involves men chanting elegies while striking their chests in unison to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Husayn during Ashura.

A man cries with his hand on his head during prayer outside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The moment reflects the mourning and emotional devotion of participants commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husa

A man cries with his hand on his head during prayer outside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The moment reflects the mourning and emotional devotion of participants commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husayn during Ashura.

Men carry a symbolic child’s coffin and cry while walking during the Ashura rituals in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The procession commemorates the martyrdom of Ali Asghar, the infant son of Imam Husayn, honoring his sacrifice at Karbal

Men carry a symbolic child’s coffin and cry while walking during the Ashura rituals in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The procession commemorates the martyrdom of Ali Asghar, the infant son of Imam Husayn, honoring his sacrifice at Karbala.

Men chant and perform rhythmic chest-beating while one of them holds a book during their procession in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The ritual, called latm or matam, involves reciting elegies from the book and striking their chests in u

Men chant and perform rhythmic chest-beating while one of them holds a book during their procession in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The ritual, called latm or matam, involves reciting elegies from the book and striking their chests in unison to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Husayn during Ashura.

Men strike themselves beside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The act is part of an Ashura self-flagellation ritual performed by some Shi’a groups to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Husayn at Karbala

Men strike themselves beside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The act is part of an Ashura self-flagellation ritual performed by some Shi’a groups to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Husayn at Karbala

Men strike themselves beside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The act is part of an Ashura self-flagellation ritual performed by some Shi’a groups to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Husayn at Karbala.

Men strike themselves beside the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The act is part of an Ashura self-flagellation ritual performed by some Shi’a groups to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Husayn at Karbala.

A red flag with black inscriptions waves in front of the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The flag is a Husseini banner, symbolizing mourning and remembrance of Imam Husayn’s martyrdom at Karbala during the As

A red flag with black inscriptions waves in front of the self-organized Shi’a mosque in Peristeri, Athens, Greece on July 6, 2025. The flag is a Husseini banner, symbolizing mourning and remembrance of Imam Husayn’s martyrdom at Karbala during the Ashura rituals.