Iraq Bids Farewell to Martyr Sayyid Ali Khamenei with a Solemn, Million-Strong Procession in Najaf
54 seconds ago
News and analysis أخبار وتحاليل
0 Views
**Iraq Bids Farewell to Martyr Sayyid Ali Khamenei with a Solemn, Million-Strong Procession in Najaf**
**Al-Masirah Net | Monitoring Desk:** Millions of Iraqi mourners flocked to the holy city of Najaf, Iraq, today, Wednesday, to participate in the farewell and funeral procession for the martyred Imam, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Husseini Khamenei (may his secret be sanctified). The atmosphere was solemn, marked by grief and loyalty, as footage documented the massive crowds filling the city streets to take part in the funeral rites.
The casket of the martyr Sayyid Ali Khamenei was transported during the night to the Shrine of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) in Najaf, where official and popular ceremonies for the funeral began amidst a massive, million-strong turnout. The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) announced that the number of participants in Sayyid Ali Khamenei’s funeral in Najaf had exceeded 2.3 million, with mourners continuing to arrive.
An atmosphere of grief and sorrow prevailed in the city, while the sounds of chants and elegies resonated from the crowds. This coincided with the movement of the special vehicle carrying the pure body, which had been prepared in advance, along the main route of the procession amidst the sea of mourners.
The bodies of Sayyid Khamenei and several family members had arrived at Najaf International Airport on Tuesday evening, accompanied by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and a high-level delegation. The official procession was received by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, alongside leaders of the Coordination Framework, including Nouri al-Maliki, Hadi al-Amiri, Qais al-Khazali, Ammar al-Hakim, and Mohammed al-Halbousi, in addition to other political, religious, and tribal figures. The remains were transported and placed within the shrines of Imam Hussein and his brother Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas (peace be upon them both) for final farewell ceremonies, amidst a wide presence of religious scholars and massive throngs of mourners who gathered in the sacred courtyards of the Hussein and Abbas shrines to bid their final farewell, under strict organizational measures.
*[Tweet Link: The pure body of the martyred Imam and Mujahid Sayyid Ali Khamenei arrives at the shrine of the Commander of the Faithful in Najaf]*
Najaf mobilized all its security and service resources to ensure the smooth flow of the funeral, in which religious delegations and prominent figures participated, amid strict organizational measures accompanying the movement of the casket, in preparation for its later departure toward Karbala to join the bodies of his family members for the final farewell ceremonies.
Both Najaf and Karbala witnessed intensive logistical and service preparations, including the setup of hospitality sites, the distribution of food and water, the provision of first aid, and the organization of the movement of processions and arrivals to the ceremony sites.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi also issued a directive on Tuesday suspending official working hours in all state institutions today, Wednesday, coinciding with the funeral ceremonies, according to a statement from his media office.
In turn, Communications Minister Mustafa Sanad announced today, Wednesday, the release of a commemorative postage stamp for the late martyr Sayyid Ali Khamenei.
The Secretary-General of the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq movement, Sheikh Qais al-Khazali, offered his condolences to all Muslims and free people of the world for this great tragedy, noting that Iraqis, from all walks of life, would hold a funeral for Sayyid Khamenei. He added that Sayyid Khamenei was “the sign of truth of the time,” as he described it.
*[Tweet Link: The casket of the martyred Mujahid Sayyid Ali Khamenei enters the holy shrine of his grandfather, the Commander of the Faithful, Ali bin Abi Talib (peace be upon him) in Najaf]*
The funeral in Iraq comes after the Iranian cities of Tehran and Qom witnessed million-strong processions and a historic human flood, with the funeral being described as the largest in the modern history of the world, according to the *Financial Times*.
The massive, million-strong crowds at the funeral in Najaf decisively confirm the depth of the strong and historical relationship that unites the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Iraq. Through their solemn turnout today, the Iraqis proved that they are fulfilling their religious and moral duty and honoring their sincere pledge to the martyr Sayyid Khamenei, in appreciation of his historical positions and his international role.
The Najaf station marks the beginning of new stages of Sayyid Ali Khamenei’s funeral ceremonies in Iraq, which extend from Najaf to holy Karbala, where farewell ceremonies continue amidst remarkable popular and official participation.
It is scheduled that the funeral procession will head from Najaf to the shrine of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) in holy Karbala, before the pure body returns to Iran to be laid to rest tomorrow, Thursday, in his hometown of Mashhad (northeastern Iran), adjacent to the shrine of Imam Ali al-Ridha (peace be upon him).
WILAYAH NEWS VOICE OF THE GLOBAL AWAKENING
