“Muqtada al-Sadr,” leader of Iraq’s Sadr movement, in a statement, called on Arba‘een pilgrims and the “Islamic ummah” to take part in the funeral procession of “Ali Khamenei,” the former leader of the Islamic Republic. In the statement, Sadr described Khamenei as “the martyr of the guardianship, jihad, and steadfastness,” and asked believers to attend the funeral and farewell ceremony for him. The invitation has been published while, according to the program announced by officials of the Islamic Republic, part of Khamenei’s funeral rites after Tehran will also be held in Iraq’s holy cities, including Najaf and Karbala.