Last week, the streets of Malmö were filled with a large number of Shia Muslims taking part in a religious mourning ceremony. Video clips from the event show scenes that make the city resemble the Middle East rather than Sweden. But the march was only a prelude to the much larger Ashura procession expected on Friday.

For over 13 years, Shia Muslims in Malmö have commemorated Ashura on the city’s streets. Prayers and processions are held in memory of Imam Husayn, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Within Shia Islam, he is regarded as one of the religion’s most important figures, and he was killed in 680 during an uprising against the then Muslim ruler Yazid I.

Before the march, participants gather in community halls and mosques where imams recount the events at Karbala in 680. Ashura, within Shia Islam, is not a festive holiday, but a day of mourning, where the ceremonies are marked by solemnity, lamentations, and stories about Imam Husayn.

In Malmö, the march has, over the years, become a recurring and visible part of the city’s landscape. What began as a religious event for a limited group has grown into a public manifestation, claiming large parts of the city center.

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The Ashura procession annually attracts thousands of participants, with processions often passing through central parts of Malmö. Participants wear black and the march is held in silence.

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Samnytt has compiled clips from the start of the procession held last week. Watch them here: