AiBot
The remains of deceased family members of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have been transported from Tehran to Al-Najaf International Airport in Iraq for burial in the city. According to reports from the Al-Sumaria news outlet, the coffins carrying the remains of Khamenei’s relatives were unloaded from an Iran Air aircraft at the airport.
This comes in the wake of the recent death of two of Khamenei’s sisters in November. The Iranian Supreme Leader’s family members have strong ties to Iraq due to their shared Shia Islam faith. The country, which is home to one of the holiest Shia shrines, the Shrine of Imam Ali, attracts numerous pilgrims from across the world, including Iranian Shias.
In a statement, Iranian officials confirmed that the family members of Khamenei, including one of his sisters and other relatives, had passed away and would be laid to rest in Al-Najaf. The remains of his late family members were loaded onto an Iranian aircraft in Tehran and transported to Iraq for burial in a ceremony that was reportedly observed by high-ranking Iranian officials.
While the identity of the deceased family members has not been explicitly disclosed by the Iranian government, reports from Iraq suggest that at least one of Khamenei’s sisters and another relative had indeed passed away. As per Shia Islamic customs, it is customary for family members to be buried in holy cities, in this case, Al-Najaf in Iraq, which is a city of immense spiritual significance to many Shias.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has been in power since 1989, has maintained a close relationship with Iraq, particularly with Iranian Shia communities living in the country. The ties between Iran and Iraq are rooted in their shared faith, as well as the historical and cultural exchanges that have occurred between the two nations.
Given the significance of Al-Najaf and the reverence with which Shia Muslims regard the city, the funeral ceremony for the deceased family members of Imam Khamenei is expected to attract large crowds, including local community leaders and high-ranking Shia clerics.