Iran’s dayslong funeral for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began on Saturday as the administration shut down streets, airspace and daily life in Tehran with hundreds of thousands of mourners waiving a red and white flag at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla Grand Mosque, where the body of Ali Khamenei is to lie for three days.
Red and white flags invoke historic martyrdom and revenge
Thousands of red and white flags at Khamenei’s funeral procession symbolise “martyrdom” and “revenge” in the Shia Muslim tradition, CNN reported.
The flags have the Farsi words “Ya Hussein” written on them, referring to the 7th century martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed and a respected figure in the Shia community. Hussein died in the Battle of Karbala, which eventually divided the Shia and Sunni Muslims.
Religious symbolism reframed for modern political conflict
The red and white flag is usually acknowledged as a religious invocation for the Shia Muslims across the world, but the Iranian authorities have also inscribed “Ya Hussein” on it in order to portray modern conflicts through the symbolism of Karbala, which symbolises Hussein’s continued stance against injustice, the report added.
Precedent of the flag at high-profile military funerals
The flag has been seen draped over Khamenei’s casket as mourners continued to visit Mosalla Grand Mosque in Tehran.
The flag has been displayed at other events in the Islamic Republic such as the killing of top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Qasem Soleimani in 2020.
Presence of national and regional militant banners
Apart from the red and yellow flag, Iran’s national flag and Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah’s green and yellow flag are also being commonly used by the mourners attending Khamenei’s funeral procession.
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Alignment with Muharram mourning and upcoming Iraqi procession
Notably, Ali Khamenei’s funeral, who died in a joint US-Israel strike on Iran in February, falls in the Islamic month of Muharram, when Shia Muslims honour Hussein and his martyrdom in the Battle of Karbala, CNN reported.
The slain supreme leader’s body will be transported to the Shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala, Iraq as part of the week long commemoration.