A votive tablet from the holy ground of Kerbela, a Shia pilgrimage site in the South of Iraq. During the conflict between Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims a battle took place in 680 at Kerbela. Here Husayn, the son of Ali, and his troops were defeated by the (Sunni Muslim) Caliph. Shia Muslims commemorate this martyrdom of Husayn during a religious festivity, Ashura. During this festivity plays are staged and processions take place, in the course of which the participants hurt themselves by identifying themselves with Husayn.