Millions Flood Tehran as Farewell Begins for Martyr Imam Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei
Millions of mourners filled Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Mosalla as the farewel for Martyr Imam began with nationwide participation, chants of Resistance, and funeral ceremonies set to continue across Iran
IRAN, PUREWILAYAH.COM – Millions of mourners from across Iran converged on Tehran before dawn on Saturday to bid farewell to Martyr Imam Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, filling the Imam Khomeini Mosalla and surrounding streets in what is expected to become one of the largest public gatherings in the history of the Islamic Republic.
People from every province continued arriving throughout the morning as authorities opened the northern and eastern entrances to the Mosalla around 4:00 a.m. to receive the growing crowds. Long before the official program began, the vast prayer halls, courtyards, and roads leading to the complex had already been filled with men, women, youth, and elderly mourners.
Thousands performed the dawn prayer in congregation inside the Mosalla before remaining in place to participate in the farewell ceremony for the martyred Leader.
Massive Crowds Continue to Arrive
The flow of mourners continued uninterrupted throughout the day as buses and private vehicles brought people from cities across Iran.
Organizers implemented extensive arrangements to accommodate the growing number of participants, while the surrounding areas remained packed as additional crowds continued entering the venue.
Iranian media described the gathering as one of the largest popular mobilizations ever witnessed in the country, with millions expected to participate throughout the multi-day farewell and funeral ceremonies.
Chants of Loyalty Echo Across the Mosalla
The farewell ceremony was marked by repeated chants expressing loyalty to the path of the martyred Leader and commitment to continue the course of the Islamic Revolution.
Among the slogans heard throughout the gathering were “Labbayka Ya Sayyed Mojtaba,” “O Avenger of the Martyred Leader,” “Death to America,” and “Death to Israel.”
Participants declared their determination to preserve the legacy of Martyr Imam Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei and continue the path of Resistance for which he dedicated his life.
The atmosphere throughout the Mosalla combined grief with pride, as mourners paid their final respects while reaffirming their commitment to the ideals for which the Leader was martyred.
Funeral Procession to Span Iran and Iraq
The committee overseeing the funeral announced that public farewell ceremonies will continue at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla until Sunday evening.
Funeral prayers over the body of Martyr Imam Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei and members of his family are scheduled to be held at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday in Tehran.
The official funeral procession will take place in the Iranian capital on Monday before the body is transferred to the holy city of Qom on Tuesday for additional ceremonies.
On Wednesday, funeral processions will continue in Iraq, where the body will be taken to Najaf for farewell ceremonies and circumambulation at the shrine of Imam Ali (AS), followed by similar ceremonies at the holy shrines of Imam Husayn (AS) and Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas (AS) in Karbala.
The burial is scheduled for Thursday at the shrine of Imam al-Ridha (AS) in Mashhad.
International Attention Focuses on Tehran
The farewell ceremonies have become the focus of extensive international media coverage, with television networks, newspapers, and news agencies from across the world providing continuous live broadcasts from Tehran.
International reports highlighted the participation of official delegations from numerous countries alongside the massive public turnout, describing the ceremonies as one of the most significant political and religious events currently taking place in the region.
Several reports also pointed to the scale of the public mobilization, the logistical organization of the ceremonies, and the symbolic religious character of the farewell, with millions expected to participate throughout the various stages of the funeral processions in Iran and Iraq. (PW)