Iraq awaits official decision on Wednesday holiday during Khamenei funeral rites

NAJAF, Iraq — Questions over whether Wednesday will be declared a public holiday in Iraq have circulated among workers and residents as the body of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is scheduled to be buried in Najaf and Karbala that day, according to the funeral organizing committee. The committee said the body will arrive in Iraq on Tuesday, with a funeral ceremony held in Najaf on Wednesday morning and in Karbala later the same afternoon, before the remains are returned to Iran. The total duration of the ceremonies in Iraq is expected to be limited to 24 hours. Security and service agencies have drawn up an extensive plan to manage crowds and ensure the safe flow of visitors during the processions. On social media, calls have mounted for a nationwide holiday or at least a local one in Najaf and Karbala on the day of the funerals. The Iraqi Cabinet and the General Secretariat have not yet announced any decision on a public holiday, and work hours will continue as normal until an official statement is issued. Observers have suggested that, depending on security and logistical assessments, working hours could be suspended in specific cities or along the funeral route. Hundreds of thousands of workers, particularly in and around the two holy cities, are awaiting the official announcement, with large-scale traffic and security measures expected to be enforced on the day.