Korean Media: Iran Holds 40-Day Mourning Ceremony for Ayatollah Khamenei’s Death… Son Mojtaba, Rumored to Be Unwell, Does Not Appear

Today marks the 40th day (Arba'in) since the passing of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Nationwide mourning ceremonies were held across Iran. However, Mojtaba Khamenei, the reportedly unwell son and potential successor, did not appear at the memorial events.

"Arba'in" means "forty" in Arabic and refers to the 40th day following the martyrdom of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the third Shia Imam, who was brutally killed during the Battle of Karbala by Sunni rulers. Similar to Korea's 49-day memorial rites, mourning for the deceased for up to 40 days is a traditional practice among Shia Muslims.

According to reports from AFP and other news agencies, starting at 9:40 a.m. on the day, millions of people participated in mourning activities across Iran, including in the capital Tehran. The ceremony began precisely at the time of Ayatollah Khamenei’s death—February 28.

Since early morning, Iran’s state television broadcast live coverage of mourning scenes nationwide. People dressed in black to mourn the passing of the former supreme leader who had ruled Iran for nearly 40 years. They carried Iranian flags, Hezbollah banners, and portraits of Khamenei, chanting slogans such as “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” as they marched.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials also attended the procession. Various figures issued eulogies calling for the continuation of Khamenei’s legacy and unwavering resistance.

Given the special significance of Arba'in, international attention focused on whether Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei—the son and designated successor—would personally attend the event. However, until late afternoon, he remained absent from public view. Although Mojtaba has assumed the role of the new Supreme Leader, he has only issued written statements, fueling rumors about his poor health. Recently, the UK’s Daily Telegraph reported that he is “unconscious and unable to manage state affairs.”

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862054190861312/

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