Re: matam saterted...
im a shia and im against this sort of matam. as are a lot of Marajii although I know there is still no consensus on this, since a minority of important marajii support it including Sistani.
Even if something is done out of love, when a practice is the cause of disease spreading in the community through the transmission of blood borne diseases such as HepC (a very serious problem in Pakistan)..not just to those doing it but to passers-by and theres deaths every year from some idiot putting a sword on a toddlers head, you have to call a spade a spade and recognise that the practice is by no means a valid expression of love.
I know someone who suffered for years after doing zanjeer ka matam and eventually suffered liver failure (from HepC). Im sure his wife and children dont need love expressed this way. Pointless risk.
it is a practice sustained by tradition rather than reason, and thankfully is dying out in important shia centers like Iran and I believe Iraq too.