Otters and Science News: THE MUSLIM FESTIVAL OF ASHURA - How can the West ever expect to reason with those who slash themselves and their babies in the name of their faith? - While the US and EU governments demand that Israel hand over Jerusalem to Islam, or else.

Before forming an opinion, perhaps we should wait for our liberal western politicians to tell us, in all their wisdom, whether this is or is not "the real Islam".

And in spite of clear evidence of what Islam represents, the White House and Europe are loudly demanding that Israel give Jerusalem to Islam, while subjecting Israel to all kinds of pressure and demonization in order to bully the government to comply with their demands.

DAILY MAIL - The moment a small boy has a gash cut into his head as part of Muslim ceremony commemorating the death of the Prophet's grandson.

Child has gash cut into his head as part of a Muslim Ashura ceremony

Rituals include people whipping and cutting themselves with chains in public

Children were seen carrying large knives and bleeding from their heads

Ceremony commemorates the death of the Prophet Mohammad's grandson

The Day of Ashura is a national holiday in some Muslim countries, with thousands taking part in annual rituals which include people whipping and cutting themselves with chains and knives.
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Disturbing images of Muslim self-flagellation and the slashing of young children.

One of the images shows a Shi'ite Muslim child who had his head ritually gashed during a procession ahead of Ashura in Mumbai, India.

The tradition, which commemorates the death of the Prophet Mohammad's grandson, is seen by some Shi'ite Muslims as away of washing away their sins.

Muslims took part in the event to commemorate Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, who died in battle 1,300 years ago. Other Shi'ites were seen drenched in blood during the processions in India, Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan.

Young children carried large knives through the street and were seen with blood pouring from head wounds. There were similar scenes in Lahore, Pakistan, where men were seen with open wounds and scars as they lashed each other.

ISIS claimed responsibility for two bombings on Shi'ite pilgrims that left 23 people dead in Baghdad on Sunday, calling it the 'biggest infidel event'.

A "great religion," as US Secretary Kerry called Islam at a ceremony honoring a Canadian soldier murdered by a Muslim in Ottawa recently, while the soldier's mother sobbed.