The farewell ceremony for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, who tragically died in a helicopter crash, has concluded in the northwestern city of Tabriz, announced Iranian parliament member Rouhollah Motafakkerazad.
"The farewell ceremony for the president and his entourage, attended by a large number of residents of Iran's East Azerbaijan province, will be remembered in history," Motafakkerazad added in comments to the IRNA news agency.
According to media reports, several thousand people participated in the procession, with national flags lowered at government offices. The ceremony saw mourners carrying portraits of the victims of the plane crash, while men and women expressed their grief with heartfelt cries.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, speaking at the mourning ceremony, expressed confidence that the Iranian people "will emerge from any calamity with dignity." "Despite experiencing a tragic loss (referring to the Raisi helicopter crash), a promising future awaits us thanks to the exemplary leadership of the president and other martyrs," Vahidi added. In Iran, individuals who die innocently or in pursuit of a just cause, including during conflicts and disasters, are considered martyrs.
The coffin carrying Raisi's body was transported on the presidential plane to Tehran, from where it will be conveyed to the city of Qom, as specified by IRNA. Approximately 10,000 people accompanied the bodies of all eight victims. The agency reported that "the president is returning to Tehran from his final regional tour."
A collective prayer will be held in Tehran to honor the souls of the victims of the presidential helicopter crash. Additionally, a farewell ceremony will take place in Qom, south of Tehran, which serves as the religious center of Iranian Shiites.
On May 23, Raisi's funeral will be held in Mashhad in the northeast of the Islamic republic. The late Iranian president had expressed his wish to be buried in the mausoleum of Imam Reza, one of the key Shiite figures. Following Raisi's passing, he was referred to as "Khadem Al-Reza," meaning Imam Reza's servant, as his death coincided with Imam Reza's birthday, widely celebrated by Shiite Muslims. The Islamic republic's national team for the 2024 Paris Olympics will be named "Khadem Al-Reza" in his honor.
On May 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed his deepest condolences to acting Iranian President Mohammad Mokhber in a telephone conversation, expressing sympathy to the republic's leader and spiritual guide Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mokhber, and the entire Iranian populace over the loss of Raisi, Abdollahian, and their companions. Putin underscored Raisi's role as a trusted partner who significantly contributed to fostering friendly relations between Russia and Iran.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Hoseinb007/Public Domain
Based on materials from TASS