SHAFAQNA- Mr. Smith is a member of Shia community of Haiti. In an interview with Shafaqna, he explains about the culture of Ashura in his community.
Shafaqna: How well is Imam Husayn (A.S) and the event of Ashura known to your people, Muslims or non-Muslims?
Smith: The event of ashura is known among few Shia muslims in my country. Only last we held a group mourning during Ashura.
Shafaqna: How are Muharrem mourning ceremonies held in your country?
Smith: Last year, we spent 10 days relating the event of Ashura in a group of 5 to 8 people.
Shafaqna: Have you ever held any interfaith dialog over the issue of Ashura and Imam Husayn?
Smith: I held some three interfaith activities in media three times.
Shafaqna: What influence has the message of Ashura on your personal and social life?
Smith: The event of Ashura has a deep effect on my personal life and my family life. All my daughters have names of imam’s female children. During Ashura, we all wear blacks all day, serving only coffee to guests in our homes.
Shafaqna: How could the Imam Husayn teachings and Culture of Ashura help modern-day people?
Smith: Ashura helps oppressed people to find strength to stand against oppression and humiliation. Imam is the icon of resistance, that proved itself in different movements in the modern day such the Islamic revolution of Iran.