Estimates for how many people have turned out for Ali Khameni’s funeral run to 9-10 million people, so far. The doors to the Musalla had to be closed this morning because the prayer hall was full to capacity. People who could not get in were asked to pray on the streets outside.
Trump, in an interview with Axios expressed astonishment that so many people showed up. He said that he was surprised to see some Iranians crying at the funeral, saying he thought people hated Khamenei. “Maybe it’s fake tears,” Trump mused.
Since yesterday, vows of vengeance have been rising up from the prayer hall, symbolized by the thousands of red flags visible in the imagery of the crowds. The flags have the Arabic inscription “Ya Litharat al-Hussein” (“O avengers of Hussein”), a deeply rooted symbol in Shiite tradition associated with the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) in Karbala, Tasnim reports this morning.
“Historically, the red banner signifies that innocent blood has been unjustly shed and that justice has yet to be served. While it is commonly displayed during the mourning ceremonies of Muharram, it also carries a broader message of pursuing justice and, in exceptional circumstances, symbolizes the resolve to retaliate against those responsible for the crime,” Tasnim explains.
“Echoing that symbolism, mourners repeatedly chanted ‘Revenge! Revenge!’ as they also carried Iranian flags, portraits of the martyred Leader, images of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, and the ‘clenched fist’ symbol, pledging allegiance while bidding farewell to the martyred Imam.”
