On the seventh day of Muharram, thousands of shia muslims gather in front of the Abu Fazl mosque in the center of Kabul. In 2011 a terrorattack claimed the life of more than 50 people at this place, but every year faithfull men and young boys overcome the threat of another attack, and meets to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussein Ali. They rip their own backs bloody with chains and sharp knives, to epitomise the deep sorrow caused by the death of the Imam, whom died in the battle of Karbala around 1300 years ago. For the shiite muslims in Kabul, the tradition of Zanjeer Zani is a day of remembrance and self-sacrifice. Many religious authorities have recently condemned these rituals under the claim that such practices are wrong or unislamic.