Babylon declares Wednesday, Thursday public holidays for Khamenei funeral rites

BABYL, Iraq — Official institutions in the southern Iraqi city of Babyl declared Wednesday and Thursday public holidays to receive the remains of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and prepare for funeral rites in Najaf and Karbala. The decision was adopted unanimously during an extraordinary session of the Babyl Provincial Council, its head Assad al-Muslimaoui said. Muslimaoui said 400 vehicles had been readied to transport mourners and that service and security plans were in place. Governor Ali Turki said the operational plan took effect the same day, with health and security preparations completed. According to the announced schedule, the remains will be flown from Qom, Iran, to Najaf International Airport on July 8, followed by a ceremony at the Imam Ali Shrine before the cortege moves to Karbala. The Karbala ceremony is set to take place along al-Abbas Street between the Two Shrines with public participation. The remains will then be transported from Najaf airport to the Iranian city of Mashhad for burial at the Imam Reza Shrine.