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The Latest Breaking News from Najaf

Iran's funeral politics: Khamenei's burial becomes message to region and rivals

Iran used the funeral ceremonies for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as a carefully orchestrated display of regional influence, religious symbolism and diplomatic hierarchy, deploying Quran recitations to send messages to allies, rivals and friends alike.

The Times of India

Video shows fighter jet escorting slain Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei’s coffin to Mashhad

The coffin of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been returned to Iran from Iraq following solemn funeral rites held in both Najaf and Karbala. His arrival in Mashhad drew large crowds as the community prepared for his burial at the Imam Reza shrine. Khamenei passed away on February 28 during a…

The Times of India

Iraq’s holy cities host funeral processions for Khamenei

NAJAF, Iraq - Crowds thronged the streets of Najaf on Wednesday as the coffin of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei moved through the holy city in a procession devoted to Iraq, home to Shia Islam’s most sacred shrines.

Bangkok Post

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Ali Khamenei's coffin passes through thousands of mourners in Iraq's holy city of Najaf

Funeral procession for Ali Khamenei passes through Najaf as thousands of mourners gather, touching the funeral truck and honouring the late leader.

Euronews

Funeral prayers in Iraq for Iranian supreme leader commences, after body arrives in holy city

Funeral processions for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have begun Wednesday in Najaf, Iraq, with thousands of mourners present

The Independent UK

Iraq's holy cities to host funeral processions for Ali Khamenei

Funeral processions for Iran's slain leader Ali Khamenei will pass through Iraq's holy cities. Ceremonies began Saturday in Iran and will include a dedicated day for neighboring Iraq. Iraqi officials received Khamenei's remains Tuesday night at Najaf international airport. Huge crowds are expected in Najaf and Karbala for the significant…

The Economic Times

Huge crowds flood Iraq’s holy cities for Khamenei funeral procession

The funeral procession of Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continued to draw massive crowds as it made its way through the holy cities of Iraq, home to some of the Shia faith's most sacred shrines. The six-day funeral ceremony will conclude on Thursday when Khamenei's body is returned…

France 24

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Hamas, Hezbollah & Houthis: Low-profile guest list for Khamenei's funeral reveals how isolated Iran has become

Iran begins a week of funeral ceremonies on Friday for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint US–Israeli strike in February. The ceremonies will move from Tehran to Qom, then to Najaf in Iraq, before concluding with burial in his hometown of Mashhad next Thursday.…

The Times of India

Pope Francis' relationship with Islam: Guided by belief in dialogue and brotherhood

Pope Francis had very positive attitudes towards Muslims and called for dialogue between them and Christians as "brothers and sisters, as they should be". The Pontiff visited 10 Muslim countries, which established him as an advocate for genuine dialogue between the two religions.

Euronews

At least 1800 hospitalised in Iraq as sandstorm halts flights and triggers power outages

Airports in Najaf and Basra temporarily shut as visibility impaired due to the sandstorm deemed to be the biggest this year

The Independent UK

Iraqi law that may allow child marriage sparks protests

Demonstrations opposing the new law have been held in Baghdad, Basra, Kirkuk and Najaf

Evening Standard

Low Turnout and Boycotts Mar Iraq's Provincial Elections

Iraq's first provincial elections in a decade are underway amid an influential bloc's boycott, low turnout, sporadic violence, and alleged irregularities.

Top News

We need an extraordinary act of peace

Something almost impossible happened in Iraq in 2004. We need that kind of spiritual energy right now

Salon

Iraqis Protest Amendments to Electoral Law

Hundreds of Iraqis took to the streets in several governorates in the central and southern parts of the country on Sunday evening, protesting against the new proposed amendment to the electoral law. The growing popular discontent aimed to force the parliament not to approve the draft amendment and reinstate the…

Asharq Al-Awsat

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Asharq Al-Awsat

Report Accuses Iran’s Quds Force of Smuggling Millions of Dollars from Iraq

A report published by Iran International news channel accused on Tuesday the Quds Force, the foreign arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), of smuggling millions of dollars from Iraq to the Guard's accounts in Iran, in cooperation with the Iranian embassy in Baghdad. The channel, based in London, said…

The Times of India

We will start campaign to restore original names of Muslim historical heritage sites, says Shia cleric Maulana Yasoob Abbas

LUCKNOW: Shia religious leaders will start a campaign and write letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restore original names of Muslim historical heritage sites said Maulana Mohammad Mirza Yasoob Abbas to TOI, after after archaeological survey of India (ASI) raised sign board which mentioned Imambara Shah Najaf as Ghazi-ud-Din-Haider's…

The Conversation

How Shiite Islam reached Tanzania, and Ashoura processions became an annual tradition

Each year, the largest contemporary Muslim pilgrimage takes place in Iraq to remember Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson. Before the pandemic, this event reportedly drew more than 30 million people, but in recent years participation declined to more than 14 million. This procession from Najaf to Karbala, where Hussein…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Iraq’s Maliki Faces Lawsuit Demanding His Arrest, Travel Ban

Head of the Sadrist bloc in Iraq Nassar Al Rubaie has filed a lawsuit against former prime minister and leader of State of Law Coalition Nouri Al Maliki. In a letter presented to the third panel of Al-Karkh Criminal Court, Rubaie requested authorities to issue an arrest warrant against Maliki…

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Asharq Al-Awsat

How Sistani Silently Halted Iraq’s Slide Back into War

When a pronouncement by a religious scholar in Iran drove Iraq to the brink of civil war last week, there was only one man who could stop it: 92-year-old Iraqi Shiite religious authority Ali al-Sistani, who proved once again he is the most powerful man in his country. Sistani said…

Reuters

How a 92-year-old cleric silently halted Iraq's slide back into war

When a pronouncement by a religious scholar in Iran drove Iraq to the brink of civil war last week, there was only one man who could stop it: a 92-year-old Iraqi Shi'ite cleric who proved once again he is the most powerful man in his country.

Asharq Al-Awsat

Power Crisis Adds to Iraq’s Political Woes

The power crisis sweeping Iraq has triggered a wave of protests in central and southern parts of the country, with fears the rallies being politicized growing among observers. In Najaf, mass demonstrations erupted due to a complete power outage. In the far southern province of Basra, protests took place for…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Iraq Prosecution to Probe 'Maliki WikiLeaks'

Iraq’s judiciary is expected to examine two complaints to probe the voice recordings attributed to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in which he criticized politicians, notably his rival cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Known in Iraq as the “Maliki WikiLeaks”, the former PM threatened to attack Najaf city to protect the country’s…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Iraq Continues to Exhume Mass Graves

A noisy backhoe digs up earth to uncover yet another mass grave in Iraq, human remains are exhumed and the forensics experts get to work on their grim task. A skull is freed from a layer of clay, a tibia is placed in a body bag -- all bound for…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Iraq's Prized Rice Crop Threatened by Drought

Drought is threatening the Iraqi tradition of growing amber rice, the aromatic basis of rich lamb and other dishes, and a key element in a struggling economy. The long-grained variety of rice takes its name from its distinctive scent, which is similar to that of amber resin.

Asharq Al-Awsat

Iraq Yet Again Hit by Increasingly Frequent Dust Storms

Iraq on Sunday was yet again covered in a thick sheet of orange as it suffered the latest in a series of dust storms that have become increasingly common. Flights were grounded due to poor visibility at airports serving the capital Baghdad and the city of Najaf, with the phenomenon…

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