Ebrahim Raisi’s 40th Day Ceremony: A Powerful Reflection on His Legacy

The Funeral Procession

The scale and grandeur of the funeral procession for Ebrahim Raisi underscored his importance in Iranian society. Funerals for the victims began on 21 May in Tabriz, with a procession attended by tens of thousands. The remains, carried on a lorry, were met with an outpouring of grief and respect. Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi addressed the crowds, reflecting on Raisi’s contributions to the nation.

The procession then moved to Tehran, where Raisi’s remains were taken to Qom before being returned to Tehran University for another funeral ceremony on 22 May. This event was presided over by Supreme Leader Khamenei and attended by Mokhber and foreign dignitaries, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and a delegation from the Taliban regime of Afghanistan led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The Tehran funeral ceremony was estimated to have tens of thousands in attendance, with the procession down Tehran’s main boulevard followed by hundreds of thousands.

Despite the large turnout, the funeral service for Raisi did not match the overwhelming public display seen during the funeral of Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani in 2020. Nevertheless, the ceremony was a significant moment of national mourning and political significance.