Tehran, Iran. Week-long funeral ceremonies for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began on Saturday at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran. State media footage showed large crowds of mourners gathering as the ceremony opened with the national anthem, religious eulogies and readings from the Koran.
Ceremony begins in Tehran
Iran is holding mass funeral processions for Khamenei, whose 37-year rule ended in February after what the source text described as the first airstrike of the war launched by the United States and Israel. Television footage showed his coffin draped with the Iranian flag and topped with his black turban.
The coffin was placed on a large black platform resembling the Kaaba, alongside four other coffins of his slain family members. The courtyard of the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla was filled with mourners, many waving Iranian flags and carrying photographs of Khamenei.
Chants and public mourning
According to state broadcaster Seda va Sima, chants of “Death to America” were heard at the Mosalla during the ceremony. Video posts on other state media news sites also showed mourners chanting: “Our slogan is one word: Revenge, revenge,” and “We will kill, we will kill he who killed our Imam.”
Water was misted from rooftops to cool mourners in the summer heat. Khamenei’s coffin is to remain at the Mosalla until Sunday evening.
Funeral route and burial plans
His body was expected to be taken to Qom, Najaf and Kerbala before burial on Thursday in Mashhad, home to Iran’s holiest pilgrim shrine.
The coffin was unveiled late on Thursday before a crowd of grieving supporters, who were shown swaying and beating their heads to a sung lament as flowers were thrown from the bier into the crowd. On Friday, the coffin was laid in state in the prayer hall built to honour his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Plans for larger processions
Authorities plan to mobilise millions of people for major processions in the coming days. Transport, food and lodging are to be provided to support attendance.
