Ashura and Arbaeen are among the most significant commemorations in the Islamic calendar, remembering the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (AS), grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), together with members of his family and companions at Karbala in 680 CE. His stand has endured for more than thirteen centuries as a powerful symbol of sacrifice, courage, justice and resistance to oppression.

Ashura marks the martyrdom of Imam Husayn on the 10th of Muharram, while Arbaeen is observed forty days later. Millions around the world commemorate Karbala through processions, gatherings, prayers and acts of remembrance.

These photographs document Ashura and Arbaeen in London, capturing moments of mourning, devotion and community. Through processions, banners, rituals and individual expressions of faith, they show how the message of Karbala continues to cross cultures and generations, keeping alive its enduring call for justice, dignity and humanity.