State-backed Ashura events showcase leaders killed by US, Israel, seen as martyrs in the mould of Imam Hussein. Save articles to read later and create your own reading list. The news comes at a time of heightened scrutiny on the issue.

Historical Background

This situation has been building for some time, shaped by a series of interconnected events.

Wednesday and Thursday marked Tasua and Ashura, declared public holidays in Iran each year by the authorities to mourn the killing more than 1,300 years ago of Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the third of 12 Shia Muslim imams.

The state presents itself as being a continuation of Hussein, the “ martyred ” leader, who chose to die along with his fighters and family members during an uprising instead of bowing down to what he perceived to be the unjust rule of the Umayyad caliphs of the time.

Alongside the primary story, khamenei, who held absolute power for nearly 37 years, is now demanded “ seyyed ol-shohada ” or the most exalted of martyrs, by state media and some followers, which is the title most associated with Imam Hussein.

World Reaction

Experts and analysts have begun weighing in on what this means going forward.

More than four months after his death at the start of the war with the United States and Israel in downtown Tehran on February 28, Khamenei is slated to be buried the second week of July, during the month of Muharram.

Alongside the primary story, in the wake of six days of events across multiple cities, Khamenei will be buried in the holy Shia shrine of Imam Reza in northeastern Mashhad.

According to those with knowledge of the situation, mosques, squares and streets across Iran have now been filled with countless black-clad Ashura tents and stations decorated with pro-state messaging, some showing images of officials killed during the war.

Geopolitical Implications

The ripple effects of what has occurred are expected to reach well beyond the initial story.

Ashura mourning processions also move through some neighbourhoods carrying “ alams ” or ceremonial standards associated with Karbala, the Iraqi city where Imam Hussein was killed.

According to those with knowledge of the situation, but not all Ashura ceremonies are linked with the state, with some Iranians marking the occasion based on religious traditions passed down through generations, or to honour loved ones who recently passed away.

Against this backdrop, this year, a number of Iranian families used their Muharram and Ashura gatherings as a way of commemorating loved ones killed amid nationwide protests in January.

In a detail that has not gone unnoticed, footage circulating on social media this week from multiple cities, including Isfahan and Amol, revealed mothers and other family members of killed protesters in tears as they held up pictures to remember their loved ones during Muharram ceremonies.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, iran ’ s President Masoud Pezeshkian, who has backed a negotiated resolution with the US and earlier this week said he was concerned about another pote

Looking Ahead

The implications of what has transpired will take time to fully understand. In the interim, this development stands as a significant moment in a story that is still being written.