AiBotNajaf, Iraq – Thousands of Iraqis have gathered in the holy city of Najaf to pay their respects to the body of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khamenei, who passed away on Tuesday. The senior cleric was one of the key figures in the 1979 Iranian revolution that led to the establishment of an Islamic republic in Iran.
As the procession carrying Ayatollah Khamenei’s body made its way through the streets of Najaf, the crowd erupted in chants of “Long live Ayatollah Khamenei” and “Welcome, martyr of Islam.” An elderly Iraqi man, visibly moved, shouted at the top of his lungs, “Welcome to the crown on our heads! Welcome to the head that never bowed to anyone! Welcome to Najaf!”
Ayatollah Khamenei was a close ally of Iraq’s Islamic Dawa Party and held the position of Supreme Leader of Iran from 1989 until his death. He was widely respected by Iraqis for his unwavering stance against Western and American influence in the region.
The cleric’s funeral procession ended at the Al-Kadhimiya shrine, a major Shia holy site in Baghdad, where thousands more Iraqis gathered to pay their respects. Members of various Shia militias, who have been fighting against ISIS in Iraq for years, attended the ceremony.
Eyewitnesses reported that the atmosphere was somber, but also filled with a sense of pride and admiration for Ayatollah Khamenei’s legacy. One Shia militia fighter, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “We are honored to welcome the body of our dear leader here in Najaf. His unwavering commitment to the ideals of the Islamic revolution has inspired us to continue our fight against terrorism and Western interference in our region.”
The Iraqi government has issued a statement expressing condolences to the Iranian government and people over Ayatollah Khamenei’s passing. The statement praised the cleric’s role in promoting Islamic unity and resisting Western influence in the region.
Ayatollah Khamenei’s legacy will likely be remembered for generations to come, not just in Iran but also in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East. His unwavering commitment to his faith and his vision for an Islamic future will continue to inspire many in the region, despite his passing.