The Ashura holiday did not peacefully pass in Afghanistan as Islamic State on Wednesday claimed responsibility for an attack that killed at least 18 worshippers at a shrine in the Afghan capital, raising fears of sectarian violence after a string of attacks on the country's Shi'ite minority.
Later in the day, a second explosion outside a mosque in northern Afghanistan killed at least 14 people and wounded 24 at a similar Ashura gathering. But there was no immediate claim of responsibility for that blast.
Elsewhere, millions of Shi'ite Muslims flocked to Iraq's holy city of Kerbala on Wednesday to commemorate Ashura, a religious day marking the slaying of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Hussein in the 7th century AD in a revolt against the Umayyad ruler Yazeed.
Visitors came from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and the Gulf as well as Iraq, where Shi'ites form the majority community.
Mourners dressed in black and waving flags with the slogan "O Hussein" moved around his mausoleum, hitting their heads and chests in a show of sorrow at the suffering of the imam and his family.
In Iran, millions of faithful observed the Ashoura, converging on the streets and in mosques with heavy hearts for mourning processions. During the ceremonies, the faithful are dressed in black and eulogies are recited in memory of Hussein and his 72 companions.
For more details, watch the full report in the video above