Millions expected for Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral in Iran

Funeral and farewell ceremonies for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be held in Tehran, Qom and Mashhad before his burial at the holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad, Iranian officials have announced. Mohammad Amin Tavakolizadeh, Tehran’s deputy mayor for social and cultural affairs, said preparations were underway for what authorities expect to be one of the largest public gatherings in Iran’s history. Officials estimate that between 15 and 20 million mourners could attend ceremonies in Tehran alone. A three-day programme has been planned to allow the public to pay their final respects, with the main events expected to take place at the end of Zul Hijjah and the beginning of Muharram. According to Tavakolizadeh, funeral prayers and a mass procession will be held in the capital, with the Tehran procession expected to last at least 24 hours. The body will then be taken to Qom before being transferred to Mashhad for burial. He said the decision to bury Khamenei near the shrine of Imam Reza was made in accordance with the wishes of those close to the late leader. Authorities expect large numbers of mourners from across the region to travel to Mashhad, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Kashmir and other parts of South Asia. Tavakolizadeh said preparations were also being coordinated with municipalities across the country to accommodate the expected influx of pilgrims. Cities surrounding Tehran have been tasked with providing accommodation and logistical support, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will oversee overall management of the funeral arrangements. He added that symbolic mourning ceremonies had already been held in several countries, particularly Iraq, and that large-scale commemorative events were anticipated across parts of the Muslim world, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Kashmir and Yemen. Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in an air strike targeting his office and residence in Tehran on February 28.

Read full story on Aaj English Tv