According to Mohammad Amin Tavakoli-Zadeh, Deputy for Cultural and Social Affairs of the Tehran Municipality, the funeral ceremony for Ali Khamenei, the former leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, is expected to be held at the end of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah and the beginning of Muharram, approximately two weeks from now.
Tavakoli-Zadeh stated at the 52nd session of the Cultural and Social Commission of Iran’s metropolitan cities that the responsibility for organizing the ceremony lies with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and that a three-day “public farewell” has been planned for the event.
He said that after the farewell period concludes, the funeral prayer and burial rites will be held, and that the program in Tehran alone is expected to continue for at least 24 hours. He added that preparations are underway to accommodate between 15 to 20 million participants in the capital.
The Tehran Municipality deputy further stated that funeral ceremonies in the cities of Qom and Mashhad have been finalized, and that several other provinces have also requested to host parts of the event.
He noted that the burial site of Ali Khamenei, according to his will and the recommendations of close associates, will be at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad. He also said that officials and participants from various countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, and Kashmir, are expected to travel to Mashhad to attend the ceremony.
Tavakoli-Zadeh added that some cities along the route of the procession including Qom, Karaj, Saveh, Garmsar, and Semnan are also expected to host related ceremonies for at least one day.
According to him, requests have also been made by tribes, members of the public, and the Iraqi parliament to hold parts of the funeral ceremony in Iraq, although this remains under review.
Based on reports, Ali Khamenei was killed during Israeli and United States attacks on Iran. It is also stated that several members of his family were killed, and that a ceremony for them was held in Tehran last week.
Authorities had previously announced that the timing of the funeral would depend on suitable conditions. In recent days, it has also been emphasized that the ceremony would not be held during Eid al-Ghadir or on June 3.
Earlier, Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of the Coordination Council for Islamic Propagation in Tehran Province, had stated that the funeral ceremony for Ali Khamenei would be a large-scale event, with participation expected from multiple countries.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
