In case you have no idea what they were trying to do, they were beating themselves up for Ashura. That's some tradition that Shi'a Muslims have where you beat the life out of yourself because Mohammad's grandson (third Imam) was murdered.
Wow, I wouldn't be very impressed. Now, if you let someone else beat the crap out of you for this tradition, then I'd believe you were sad about my dead grandson.
Especially if you let the person do it with a bar...
Edit: Why do I think this needs to be on google video?