Iran began six days of public funeral ceremonies for Khamenei on Saturday, including a dedicated day to neighbouring Iraq, a Shia powerhouse with close ties to Tehran.The Islamic republic hopes the marathon ceremonies will project strength and unity after the Middle East war, which started with US-Israeli strikes that killed Khamenei and several relatives on February 28.After a massive procession in Iran's holy city of Qom, Iraqi officials and senior politicians received the remains of Khamenei on Tuesday night at Najaf international airport in the presence of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Iran hopes the marathon ceremonies will project strength and unity after the Middle East war © AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP
Iraqi authorities declared Wednesday a public holiday, with ceremonies set to begin at 6:00 am (0300 GMT) in Najaf.Huge crowds were expected in Najaf and Karbala, where banners welcoming Khamenei adorned the streets. Large portraits of the late leader hung beside Iranian flags and photos of other slain commanders from Iran's "axis of resistance".In Karbala, one banner read "we bid you farewell" and another displayed Khamenei's photo with the caption, "the one who humiliated America".Khamenei's final burial will take place on Thursday in his hometown of Mashhad in northeast Iran.ShrinesIraqi Mohammed al-Bayati, 30, who travelled for hours to Najaf, said it was "an opportunity not to be missed to participate in the funeral of the person who challenged the power of America and Israel".In Najaf, mourners will join a six-kilometre (four-mile) procession ending at the majestic shrine of Imam Ali, the Prophet Mohammed's son-in-law and the first Shia Imam.Najaf is the main centre of Shia religious seminaries, and is also home to Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Iraq's top Shia religious authority.
