Nasrallah electrifies faithful in Beirut southern suburbs
Source: AFP, 21-01-2008
SFEIR, Beirut: Tens of thousands of cheering supporters invoked God's protection for "Israel's" archfoe as Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah made a rare public appearance on Saturday in Beirut's southern suburb. "God, protect Nasrallah," chanted men, women and children as the black-turbaned Hizbullah leader joined a huge crowd in his stronghold in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital.
Nasrallah took his supporters by surprise, appearing in public for the first time in more than a year to join fellow Muslim-Shiites in commemorating Ashura, one of the holiest days in Shiite Islam.
Flanked by bodyguards, Nasrallah inched his way into the sea of human supporters, walking a few meters before being whisked into a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Supporters shoved each other to try to glimpse Nasrallah and touch him amid chants of, "We are at your service."
"I saw the Sayyed, I saw the Sayyed," a teary-eyed black-clad women said, using the religious title reserved for Nasrallah as a descendant of the Prophet Mohammad.
"May God protect him," another woman shouted as she beat her chest with her fists.
Hizbullah's Al-Manar television station said one million people had turned out for the Ashura commemoration, in the Sfeir neighborhood of Beirut's southern suburbs.
Men, women and children carried yellow Hizbullah flags and beat their chests and backs in a ritual commemorating the killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, by armies of the caliph Yazid in 680.
His Martyrdom is seen by the Muslim Shiite faithfuls as a symbol of justice against tyranny, of good against evil.
Despite low temperatures, young men walked barefooted in a sign of humility and tribute for their revered imam.
"We will mourn Iman Hussein for 40 days [starting Saturday]," Ali Mehdi, 20, told AFP, adding that as part of the tradition, Muslim Shiites will be handing out to the poor a dish known as hrisse made of wheat, chicken and spices.
Muslim-Shiite faithfuls began gathering at dawn in Beirut's southern suburbs, while Ashura commemorations also took place across Lebanon.
The militant group closed off roads leading to Sfeir and searched the Muslim-Shiite faithful to ensure the safety of Nasrallah, while black-clad security guards tried to keep journalists at bay.
Nasrallah has been "Israel's" public enemy number one since "Israel" and Lebanon fought a devastating month-long war in the summer of 2006.
The Hizbullah leader has rarely made public appearances since the 2006 war. His last public appearance was at the opening of a book fair in May in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
He also appeared at a massive victory rally in the southern suburbs in September 2006. He told the cheering crowds that his group was ready for a new conflict with "Israel". "If "Israel" launches a new war against Lebanon, we promise them a war that will change the face of the entire region," Nasrallah said.
SFEIR, Beirut: Tens of thousands of cheering supporters invoked God's protection for "Israel's" archfoe as Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah made a rare public appearance on Saturday in Beirut's southern suburb. "God, protect Nasrallah," chanted men, women and children as the black-turbaned Hizbullah leader joined a huge crowd in his stronghold in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital.
Nasrallah took his supporters by surprise, appearing in public for the first time in more than a year to join fellow Muslim-Shiites in commemorating Ashura, one of the holiest days in Shiite Islam.
Flanked by bodyguards, Nasrallah inched his way into the sea of human supporters, walking a few meters before being whisked into a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Supporters shoved each other to try to glimpse Nasrallah and touch him amid chants of, "We are at your service."
"I saw the Sayyed, I saw the Sayyed," a teary-eyed black-clad women said, using the religious title reserved for Nasrallah as a descendant of the Prophet Mohammad.
"May God protect him," another woman shouted as she beat her chest with her fists.
Hizbullah's Al-Manar television station said one million people had turned out for the Ashura commemoration, in the Sfeir neighborhood of Beirut's southern suburbs.
Men, women and children carried yellow Hizbullah flags and beat their chests and backs in a ritual commemorating the killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, by armies of the caliph Yazid in 680.
His Martyrdom is seen by the Muslim Shiite faithfuls as a symbol of justice against tyranny, of good against evil.
Despite low temperatures, young men walked barefooted in a sign of humility and tribute for their revered imam.
"We will mourn Iman Hussein for 40 days [starting Saturday]," Ali Mehdi, 20, told AFP, adding that as part of the tradition, Muslim Shiites will be handing out to the poor a dish known as hrisse made of wheat, chicken and spices.
Muslim-Shiite faithfuls began gathering at dawn in Beirut's southern suburbs, while Ashura commemorations also took place across Lebanon.
The militant group closed off roads leading to Sfeir and searched the Muslim-Shiite faithful to ensure the safety of Nasrallah, while black-clad security guards tried to keep journalists at bay.
Nasrallah has been "Israel's" public enemy number one since "Israel" and Lebanon fought a devastating month-long war in the summer of 2006.
The Hizbullah leader has rarely made public appearances since the 2006 war. His last public appearance was at the opening of a book fair in May in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
He also appeared at a massive victory rally in the southern suburbs in September 2006. He told the cheering crowds that his group was ready for a new conflict with "Israel". "If "Israel" launches a new war against Lebanon, we promise them a war that will change the face of the entire region," Nasrallah said.
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