More than 4,400 people attendeda blood donation campaign on Ashura in Azerbaijan yesterday, according to the Ministry ofHealth and the Board of Muslims of the Caucasus.

They donated 1,774 litersof blood in total.

Blood donation was held in severalmosques in the capital, Baku, and the regions.  

The blood collected from donors will be used inthe treatment of people with blood illnesses including hemophilia and thalassemia.

Azeri authorities organizeblood donation on Ashura every year to discourage Muslims from self-beating.

Ashura, or tenths day ofthe holy month of Muharram on the Muslim calendar, marks the killing of ImamHusayn, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, in the seventh century.