On Ashura, the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram, in the year 61 AH [680 CE], in a struggle for the leadership of Islam, Hussayn, the grandson of the prophet Mohammed challenged Calif Yazid in combat. Husasyn lost the battle. On Ashura Shiites in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and Lebanon still commemorate his violent death. To express their grief they beat themselves with chains and swords. Hammam's images of the Ashura observances call up associations with Shiite iconography and current political events. This enables her to offer a commentary on the obsessive picture of Islam as a bloodthirsty religion.

Nermine Hammam (b. 1967, Egypt) is a successful businesswoman from Cairo. As a photographer she focuses on the spiritual rituals of the Middle East.