Iranians mourn PM Ebrahim Raisi
Thousands of Iranians gathered to mourn PM Ebrahim Raisi who was recently killed in a helicopter crash, according to Arab News and agencies on May 21st.
The Prime Minister and seven of his aides were killed on May 19th as they were travelling in northwestern Iran amid poor weather conditions.
Foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was also confirmed dead.
READ: Iranian President and FM dead in helicopter crash
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei declared five days of national mourning, assigning vice president Mohammad Mokhber as Raisi’s temporary replacement.
An official state procession is set to be held in Tehran on May 22nd.
Raisi became prime minister in 2021, succeeding his more moderate counterpart, Hassan Rouhani.
Nicknamed “The butcher of Tehran” he has been accused by human rights organisations of overseeing thousands of executions and human rights abuses.
READ: Israel airstrikes against pro-Iran targets in Syria kill six
He was also seen as a potential successor to 85 year old leader Khameini.
Despite the Islamic Republic’s attempts to portray Iranians as united in mourning the repressive leader’s death, videos circulated on social media shortly after the incident appear to show Iranians celebrating by releasing fireworks and dancing.
Raisi has been at the forefront of Iran’s repressive crackdown on civilian protestors as part of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement sparked in 2022 with the brutal killing of Kurdish-Iranian Mahsa Amini while in police custody.
Arab News / Agencies
