Postsecularism and Habermasian translations of Ashura

Abstract

This article examines the inaugural commemoration of Ashura by the Shii community in Madrid, exploring the intersection of Habermasian postsecularism and translation of religious concerns, beliefs, and practices for broader public understanding. It shows that, as a minority, the community’s strategic use of public space is a translational action that renders religious discourse into universally accessible terms, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of religious pluralism in a postsecular society. Analysing how the community strives for visibility and explication to passersby, while navigating and contesting potential negative perceptions, illustrates the complexities and possibilities of religious expression in secularised contexts. Finally, this inquiry suggests how these commemorations, in Madrid and elsewhere, contribute to the creation of informal public spheres that are not unique to Western secularised or postsecular democracies.