This essay explores the impacts of Italy’s socio-religious tendencies on the Shi’a rituals of Muḥarram and Ṣafar. Ethnography and semi-structured interviews were the main methods adopted for the performance of this research. The implications of commemorating the Karbala tragedy in Italy were studied from four viewpoints.
Between 2001 and 2018, approximately 4847 Shias were killed in incidents of sectarian violence. Some databases estimate over 10,000 innocent lives were lost during this time. The statistics are evidence of the blatant disregard for Shia lives, the complacency of State institutions and their failure to protect minorities.
