Iran mourners demand revenge at ayatollah’s funeral

{"text":[[{"start":8.45,"text":"Crowds chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” as mourners from across Iran gathered in Tehran on Saturday to pay their respects to the slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei."}],[{"start":21.6,"text":"At the start of a six-day funeral intended to demonstrate public support for the Islamic republic after months of war, mourners at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla prayer complex called for revenge and rejected any compromise in negotiations with Washington."}],[{"start":38.05,"text":"“I’m filled with anger and sorrow, while also proud of a leader who resisted until the last moment of his life,” said Somayeh, a 40-year-old chemist dressed in a black chador. "}],[{"start":50.3,"text":"“There is no way we can let the US and Israel go after killing our leader and commanders. I want revenge.”"}],[{"start":57.199999999999996,"text":"The doors of the Grand Mosalla, which hosted Iranian and foreign officials on Friday, opened to the public at 4am on Saturday, two hours earlier than announced to meet public demand. Mourners dressed in black waved Iranian flags alongside red banners, a significant symbol in Shia Islam representing blood sacrificed in defence of the faith."}],[{"start":80.05,"text":"Khamenei’s coffin, draped in the Iranian flag, was placed on a large raised platform beneath black religious banners. It was displayed alongside the coffins of his daughter, daughter-in-law, son-in-law and granddaughter, who were killed in the opening hours of the US-Israeli war against Iran in February."}],[{"start":98.85,"text":"Many mourners voiced support for Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s second son and successor, who has yet to appear in public since the strikes that killed his father and wife."}],[{"start":109.55,"text":"Zeinab, a lawyer wearing a Palestinian scarf, said she was confident the new leader would “continue his father’s path which is Islam’s path”. She too opposes negotiations with America. “Any talks with the US will be useless now that they have killed our leader,” she said."}],[{"start":126.75,"text":"Authorities said they expected as many as 15mn people to attend the funeral. Mourners were continuously entering and leaving the Mosalla complex, as requested by officials, making it difficult to estimate the size of the crowd inside or in the surrounding streets."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":143.15,"text":"The public will be able to pay their respects over two days. A public holiday has been declared on Monday for the funeral procession that will carry Khamenei’s coffin from eastern to western Tehran."}],[{"start":154.8,"text":"Khamenei’s body will be taken to the holy city of Qom on Tuesday before travelling to the Shia holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. He will then be buried in Mashhad on Thursday, his hometown in north-eastern Iran and one of Shia Islam’s holiest cities."}],[{"start":173.70000000000002,"text":"To accommodate visitors, authorities have erected thousands of tents in parks across the capital. Schools, mosques and government buildings have been converted into temporary shelters for what officials describe as “pilgrims” from across Iran and neighbouring countries."}],[{"start":189.45000000000002,"text":"Mookebs — large stalls draped in black banners — have also been set up across central Tehran, distributing drinks, watermelon and other food."}],[{"start":198.25000000000003,"text":"Big mourning ceremonies are a tradition in Shia Islam, particularly during commemorations of the Prophet Mohammed’s family and descendants. Iranian officials have sought to frame Khamenei’s funeral within that tradition."}],[{"start":211.30000000000004,"text":"A white-turbaned cleric, wearing the uniform of the Revolutionary Guards’ volunteer Basij force instead of clerical robes, said he had known Mojtaba Khamenei when the latter taught in Qom. Iran’s enemies had sought to break up the country by killing its leaders, he added."}],[{"start":226.90000000000003,"text":"“I went to Kurdistan during the war to prevent them from tearing Iran into pieces,” he said. "}],[{"start":232.85000000000002,"text":"“We want negotiators with the US not to pursue personal interests, as the west wants to make us its slaves.”"}],[{"start":246.00000000000003,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1783181863_9554.mp3"}