Video of Iranian "Passion Play"

With the recent killings in Iran on the Holy Day of Ashura, the Iranian government has ironically flamed the passions of the very same religious observance that Islamic revolutionaries used in their 1970's attacks on the Pahlavi Dynasty. When writing my novel manuscript, I turned to YouTube videos of these plays for inspiration. I have Sarah, the protagonist, attending several evenings of Ta'ziyah, or passion plays, toward the end of the novel, a point at which the Pahlavi Dynasty is reaching the end of its reign. I also drew upon my own observations--as the Shah's government became more threatened by the power of the religious authorities under the direction of Ayatollah Khomeini, the response to protests became more brutal, and the passion of the religious ceremonies became more intense. Below is a great video that shows how even the most amateurish productions (which I preferred to the slick, professional shows) can draw tears from the driest of eyes.