flog themselves

He didn't abuse the British Muslim boys because they really wanted to flog themselves
The jury is still out on Syed Mustafa Zaidi in Manchester Crown Court, but he's got a point. During the annual Ashura celebration last yr (a huge deal among Shias), where the devout slice themselves up pretty good (you bleed, you lead), it's possible that the boys, ages 14 and 15, were just aspiring to sacredness. BBC News