Iranians mourn Imam Reza’s martyrdom anniversary

Grief reigns supreme across Iran as ceremonies are underway to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Ali Ibn Musa al-Reza (PBUH), the eighth Shia Imam.

Millions of mourners have converged on Imam Reza’s Holy Shrine in the city of Mashhad in the northeastern Khorasan Province to mark the tragic occasion.

An estimated three million mourners from Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have braved the frigid weather to attend mourning ceremonies at Imam Reza’s Shrine.

As the nation maintains a somber mood, large numbers of mourners assemble at local mosques and other religious centers in commemoration of the event.

Massive memorial services are also held in the cities of Qom, in central Iran, and Shiraz, in the southwest, which are home to the shrines of Imam Reza’s revered sister and one of his brothers, respectively.

The eighth Imam of Shia Islam, Imam Reza (PBUH) was martyred after being poisoned by the Abbasid Caliph Ma’mun in the year 818 AD.