Funeral events for Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have commenced in the Iraqi city of Najaf, drawing thousands of mourners. Khamenei’s coffin was carried through the streets to the shrine of Imam Ali, the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad.
Iraqi authorities declared Wednesday a public holiday to accommodate the ceremonies, which began at 6am local time (03:00 GMT). The remains were received at Najaf international airport on Tuesday night by Iraqi officials and senior politicians, alongside Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Khamenei’s eldest son, Mostafa Hosseini Khamenei, following a large procession in Iran’s holy city of Qom.
Najaf is considered the third holiest site in Shia Islam after Mecca and Medina, according to Al Jazeera’s Jack Hewson reporting from the city. After the ceremonies in Najaf, Khamenei’s body will be flown approximately 60 kilometers north to Karbala for another procession culminating at the shrines of Imam Hussein, the third Shia imam, and his brother Abbas.
Photos from Tehran show large crowds participating in the funeral procession, with several of Khamenei’s sons attending, although Mojtaba Khamenei was notably absent.
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