QOM: The coffin of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrived in the holy city of Qom on Tuesday, where tens of thousands of mourners gathered for funeral prayers at the Jamkaran Mosque.
The ceremony marked the latest stage in a series of funeral events being held across Iran following Khamenei’s death.
Where Are the Funeral Ceremonies Taking Place?
Thousands of mourners assembled at the Jamkaran Mosque, one of Shiite Islam’s most significant religious sites, to pay their final respects to the late Iranian leader.
Following the ceremony in Qom, funeral processions are scheduled to continue in the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, reflecting Khamenei’s religious significance among Shiite communities.
Where Will Khamenei Be Buried?
According to the announced funeral schedule, Khamenei will receive his final burial in his hometown of Mashhad, one of Iran’s holiest cities and home to the shrine of Imam Reza.
The burial will conclude several days of official mourning and religious ceremonies attended by senior Iranian officials, clerics and large crowds of supporters.
Why Is the Funeral Significant?
The funeral ceremonies represent one of the largest state mourning events in Iran in recent years, drawing thousands of mourners as the country bids farewell to its long-serving Supreme Leader.
The events also underscore the religious and political importance of Qom, Najaf, Karbala and Mashhad in the Shiite Islamic world as Iran continues nationwide commemorations following Khamenei’s death.