AN ANNUAL peace march held in Newport to commemorate the martyrdom of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammed attracted worshippers from across Wales and further afield to the city on Sunday.

The 35th Ashura march honours Imam Hussain, slain with 72 members of his family and companions by the forces of the tyrant Yazid, more than 1,300 years ago in the Iraqi city of Karbala.

Ishfaq Hussain, the vice-secretary of the Islamic Society of Wales, said Newport was the first city in Europe to hold the event, which attracted hundreds of Muslims to Newport for the peace march.

“We here in Newport were among the first community in Europe to hold the march, which we have held for the past 35 years.

“It is a peaceful march and we have people from all over Wales and England – Bristol, Cardiff, Monmouth and Swansea – taking part.

“We are mainly a Shia community who do this although we will be joined by other communities.

“What happened in Karbala is still happening today where Muslims are killing other Muslims. We see them as killers of humanity.

“We are taught in the memory of Hussain and we will never fight – we are peaceful.”

Event organiser Ejaz Khan added: “We want to also help put the youths on the right track and we have set up a youth group called Al-Mahdi.

“We have got all the young people together to help them understand the history so we can pass this onto the next generation.

“The youths are very understanding and we feel confident there are moving in the right direction.

“It was Iman Hussain who was full of peace and that’s what we want to pass on the idea of tolerance.”