TEHRAN -- Iranian poet Simin Behbahani was laid to rest in her family plot at Tehran’s Behesht Zahra Cemetery on Friday.
Behbahani had asked to be buried at the Imamzadeh Taher Cemetery in Karaj in her last will and testament, but her children decided to change the location.
The funeral procession began at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall. A large number of celebrities and fans gathered in front of Vahdat Hall to say their last goodbye to Behbahani.
Author Mahmud Dowlatabadi, singer Mohammadreza Shajarian, art critic Javad Mojabi, and the poet’s elder son, Ali Behbahani, delivered short speeches during the funeral ceremony.
Vocalists Shahram Nazeri and Homayun Shajarian also performed several pieces of poetry by Behbahani at the ceremony.
Deputy Culture Minster for Artistic Affairs Ali Moradkhani, filmmaker Bahman Farmanara, actors Sirus Ebrahimzadeh, Roya Nonahali, Mahnaz Afshar, and Maryam Bubani also attended the ceremony.
Simin Behbahani died from heart failure at Tehran’s Pars Hospital on Tuesday morning at the age of 87. Behbahani was suffering from a heart problem over the past few years and fell into a coma on August 7.
A memorial service will be held at Jame’ Mosque of Shahrak-e Gharb neighborhood in Tehran on Sunday.
RM/YAW
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