Large numbers of Iraqi Shias have arrived in Detroit as refugees as a result of the ongoing turmoil in Iraq starting with the first Gulf War in the early nineties and the second Gulf War about a decade later. This displacement has been exacerbated by the ongoing conflicts of the surrounding region as well, many of which still rage on today. Ashura in Detroit is a short documentary film that explores the stunning Ashura holiday rituals of the Iraqi Shias of Metro Detroit. Ashura is commemorated by Muslims all over the world, however, the holiday has a particular significance for Shia Muslims who mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussain. For the Iraqi Shia refugees who live in Detroit, the rituals bring their formerly dispersed communities together through the collective series of ritual acts, which include choreography, percussion, and self-flagellation. The holiday takes place over the course of ten days during the Islamic month of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar.
