Mourners waiting outside the main office of the Martyr for his Emaari to be brought out. Emaari is a large box in which the Taaboot (coffin) is placed. Emaari is only used for Maraaje' (plural of Marja' a highest religious authority) or famous scholars

Mourners gathered in the surrounding streets of the Martyr's main office before the funeral procession

Waiting for the Emaari

Mourners in the Mosallaa (prayer hall in the Martyr's office) carry the Emaari outside for the procession

The funeral procession begins

Grieving followers struggle to touch their leader's Emaari

The procession starts towards the holy shrine of Sayyedah Ma'soomah

Heading towards the holy shrine of Sayyedah Ma'soomah

Heading towards the holy shrine of Sayyedah Ma'soomah

Some of the shrine's minarets visible in the picture. Khomeini's minarets are twice as tall!!

The Martyr's successor and his second son, both of whom have been arrested at least once, participating in the procession

The Martyr's eldest son Ayatollaah Sayyed Redhaa Shirazi, who has been arrested at least once, participating in the procession

A number of Maraaje' and representatives of other Maraaje' participated in the funeral procession

An estimated six hundred thousand mourners participated in the funeral procession

Grieving mourners in the procession

The Emaari carried on hands towards the holy shrine

Here, mourners do not know what is about to happen to their leader's body

Towards the holy shrine

The open spaces of the holy shrine and the surrounding streets were packed with mourners