Over 4 mln people attend farewell ceremony for slain Iranian leader Khamenei in Karbala

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More than four million pilgrims took part in farewell ceremonies for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the Iraqi holy city of Karbala, according to the command of the Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces (Al-Hashd al-Shaabi), which is assisting with maintaining order during the mourning events, as reported by TASS.

The announcement came as Khamenei's coffin was transferred from the Iraqi city of Najaf to Karbala. In Najaf, about 3.8 million people participated in mourning processions on the morning of July 8, TASS reported, citing figures from the INA news agency.

Coverage Comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, published two separate reports on the events. The first, dated July 8, focused on the massive turnout for Khamenei's farewell ceremonies in Iraq, highlighting the logistical measures taken by authorities to accommodate the crowds. The second report, dated July 9, centered on the postponement of a funeral ceremony in the Iranian city of Mashhad, attributing the decision to the ongoing mourning events in Iraq.

Both articles cited the same authoritative bodies - the Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces, the Religious Affairs Committee of Karbala Province, and an unnamed funeral committee - to corroborate the details of the ceremonies and the planned transport of the coffin.

Key Claims

• Turnout in Karbala: More than four million pilgrims took part in farewell ceremonies for Ali Khamenei in Karbala, according to a statement from the command of the Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces (Al-Hashd al-Shaabi), as cited by TASS.
• Turnout in Najaf: Approximately 3.8 million people participated in mourning processions in Najaf on the morning of July 8, based on figures cited by the INA news agency, as reported by TASS.
• Transfer of the coffin: Khamenei's coffin was transferred from Najaf to Karbala, and later, after the ceremonies, will be returned to Najaf and then transported to Iran, according to the Religious Affairs Committee of Karbala Province, as reported by TASS.
• Special flight to Mashhad: The coffin will be flown from Najaf International Airport to Mashhad on a special flight scheduled to depart between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. local time, TASS reported.
• Postponement of Mashhad ceremony: The funeral ceremony in Mashhad, originally scheduled to begin in the early hours of July 9, was postponed until the evening of the same day due to continuing mourning ceremonies in Iraq, according to the funeral committee, as cited by TASS.
• Removal of gates: Authorities removed the entrance gates to the Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas shrines in Karbala to eliminate bottlenecks for the crowds of mourners, as reported by TASS.
• Beginning of farewell ceremonies: Farewell ceremonies for Khamenei, who was killed on February 28, began in Tehran on July 3, with his body lying in state at Tehran's Mosalla, according to TASS.