Widow of Iran’s Late President Honors His Ashura Tradition in Zanjan Pilgrimage Speech — The Guardian

According to Saed News, Jamileh Alamolhoda, the wife of Iran’s late President Ebrahim Raisi, participated in a major religious gathering at the Hosseinieh Azam in Zanjan—a place closely associated with Raisi’s personal devotion during Ashura rituals. Her presence, alongside other members of Raisi’s family, marked a symbolic return to a site he had frequented annually for the Tasu’a commemorations.

The event was part of the annual “Yom al-Abbas” mourning ceremonies held in Zanjan, which draw thousands of participants to honor the sacrifices of Imam Hussein’s half-brother, Abbas ibn Ali. Alamolhoda addressed the crowd during the ceremony, speaking about the significance of the ritual and echoing her late husband’s deep-rooted religious commitments. Though the content of her speech was not widely publicized, Iranian outlets emphasized the emotional and symbolic weight of her appearance.

As reported by Tasnim News Agency, President Raisi had been a regular attendee at this location during Tasu’a, a day of mourning that precedes Ashura in the Shiite calendar. His affinity for Zanjan’s Hosseinieh Azam reflected not only personal piety but a political alignment with Iran’s religious grassroots.

The ceremony, held more than a year after Raisi’s death, was seen by some observers as an effort to preserve his memory and maintain his political and spiritual legacy within Iran’s conservative base. Alamolhoda’s participation underscored both the personal and public dimensions of that remembrance.