Thousands Gather For Funeral of Ebrahim Raisi Who Died in Chopper Crash

Dubai: Mourners in black began garing Tuesday for days of funerals and processions for Iran's late president, foreign minister and ors killed in a helicopter crash, a government-led series of ceremonies aimed at both honouring de and projecting strength in an unsettled Middle East.

For Iran's Shiite ocracy, mass demonstrations have been crucial since millions thronged streets of Tehran to welcome Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979 during Islamic Revolution.

An estimated 1 million turned out in 2020 for processions for late Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was slain in a US drone strike in Baghd.

Wher President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and ors draw same crowd remains in question, particularly as Raisi died in a helicopter crash, won his office in lowest-turnout election in country's history and presided over sweeping crackdowns on all dissent.

Prosecutors alrey have warned people over showing any public signs of celebrating his death and a heavy security force presence has been seen on streets of Tehran since crash.

But Raisi, 63, h been discussed as a possible successor for Iran's supreme leer, 85-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His death now throws that selection into question, particularly as re is no heir-apparent cleric for presidency ahe of planned June 28 elections.

“Raisi's death comes at a moment when Islamist regime is consolidated,” wrote Alex Vatanka, an Iran expert at Middle East Institute. “In short, re will be no power vacuum in Tehran; noneless, post-Khamenei Iran suddenly looks far less predictable than it did just a few days ago.” A procession Tuesday morning led by a semitruck carrying caskets of de slowly moved through narrow streets of downtown Tabriz, closest major city near site of crash Sunday.

Thousands in black slowly walked beside coffins, some throwing flowers up to m as an emcee wept through a loudspeaker for men he described as martyrs.

bodies will travel on to holy Shiite seminary city of Qom before travelling to Tehran later Tuesday. On Wednesday, a funeral presided over by Khamenei will n turn into a procession as well.

On Thursday, Raisi's hometown of Birjand will see a procession, followed by a funeral and burial at Imam Reza shrine in holy city of Mashh, only imam of Shiite's faith buried in Iran.

That shrine has long been a centre for pilgrims and sees millions visit each year. Over centuries, its grounds have served as final burial site for heroes in Persian history. It's an incredibly high, rare honour in faith.

Iranian President Mohamm-Ali Rajai, only or president to die in office when he was killed in a 1981 bombing, was buried in Tehran.

Iran's ocracy declared five days of mourning, encouraging people to attend public mourning sessions. Typically, government employees and schoolchildren attend such events en masse, while ors take part out of patriotism, curiosity or to witness historic events.

Across Iran, its rural population often more closely embraces Shiite faith and government. However, Tehran has long held a far different view of Raisi and his government's policies as mass protests have roiled capital for years.

most recent involved 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a woman detained over her allegedly loose hescarf, or hijab.

months long security crackdown that followed demonstrations killed more than 500 people and saw over 22,000 detained. In March, a United Nations investigative panel found that Iran was responsible for “physical violence” that led to Amini's death.

On Sunday night, as news of helicopter crash circulated, some offered anti-government chants in night. Fireworks could be seen in some parts of capital, though Sunday also marked a remembrance for Imam Reza, which can see m set off as well. Critical messages and dark jokes over crash also circulated online.

Iran's top prosecutor has alrey issued an order demanding cases be filed against those “publishing false content, lies and insults” against Raisi and ors killed in crash, according to semiofficial ISNA news agency.

Meanwhile Tuesday, Iran's new Assembly of Experts opened its first session after an election that decided new assembly, a panel of which both Raisi and late Tabriz Friday leer Mohamm Ali Ale-Heshem were members.

Flowers sat on seats y would have occupied at meeting of 88-member panel, which is tasked with selecting country's next supreme leer.