Khamenei’s Body Arrives in Mashhad
Large crowds gather on the streets of the holy city of Mashhad ahead of the funeral procession for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on July 9. Photo: Collected
The bodies of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several members of his family arrived at Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport in the city of Mashhad on Thursday for the final funeral and burial ceremonies.
The funeral schedule was changed due to the unprecedented participation of millions of people in Iraq. Authorities said the burial ceremony in Mashhad would be held at 2 pm instead of 8 am.
According to the schedule, Khamenei’s body will be taken along Imam Reza Road to the shrine of the eighth Shia Imam, Imam Reza, where his final funeral prayers and burial will take place.
Ayatollah Khamenei and several members of his family were killed on the first day of attacks by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28.
The dayslong funeral program began last Friday when the bodies were laid in state at Imam Khomeini Mosalla in Tehran. Foreign diplomats, religious figures and thousands of mourners paid their respects there. Public farewell ceremonies and funeral prayers were held over the following two days.
On Monday, millions of people took to the streets of Tehran as a mourning procession was held in the capital. The ceremonies then continued in the holy city of Qom on Tuesday.
The funeral events later moved to Iraq, where millions of mourners in Najaf and Karbala paid their final respects to Ayatollah Khamenei.
Thousands of people from across Iran have already gathered in Mashhad to bid their final farewell.
Source: Press TV (Adapted)
