• Fans and family members carry a coffin with the body of Mohammad Reza Shajarian, Iran's most celebrated musician, during his funeral procession in the Mashhad province on October 10, 2020. Reuters
    Fans and family members carry a coffin with the body of Mohammad Reza Shajarian, Iran's most celebrated musician, during his funeral procession in the Mashhad province on October 10, 2020. Reuters
  • Fans of Iran's legendary singer, instrumentalist and composer Mohammad Reza Shajarian, mourn in front of the Jam hospital, where Shajarian reportedly passed away, in Tehran, Iran. EPA
    Fans of Iran's legendary singer, instrumentalist and composer Mohammad Reza Shajarian, mourn in front of the Jam hospital, where Shajarian reportedly passed away, in Tehran, Iran. EPA
  • Fans and family members perform funeral prayers. Reuters
    Fans and family members perform funeral prayers. Reuters
  • Fans raise portraits of Mohammad Reza Shajarian during his funeral. AFP
    Fans raise portraits of Mohammad Reza Shajarian during his funeral. AFP
  • Fans raise portraits of Mohammad Reza Shajarian during his funeral. AFP
    Fans raise portraits of Mohammad Reza Shajarian during his funeral. AFP
  • Homayoun Shajarian, third from right, the son of Mohammad Reza Shajarian, surrounded by friends and family members. AFP
    Homayoun Shajarian, third from right, the son of Mohammad Reza Shajarian, surrounded by friends and family members. AFP
  • Fans of Mohammad Reza Shajarian mourn his death in front of Jam Hospital. Reuters
    Fans of Mohammad Reza Shajarian mourn his death in front of Jam Hospital. Reuters
  • Photos of Mohammad Reza Shajarian are seen on fans' smartphones as they mourn his death. Reuters
    Photos of Mohammad Reza Shajarian are seen on fans' smartphones as they mourn his death. Reuters

Hundreds of mourners turn out as Iranian composer Mohammad Reza Shajarian is buried near national poet Ferdowsi


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Mohammad Reza Shajarian, one of Iran's most celebrated musicians, was buried on Saturday near the 10th-century national poet Ferdowsi, Iranian media reported.

The classical composer and singer, who died on October 8, in a Tehran hospital at the age of 80 after a long battle with cancer, was regarded as a national treasure who revived traditional music.

He maintained difficult relations with the authorities in Tehran throughout his career, first under the reign of the Shah and then with the Islamic republic.

State TV on Saturday made a brief announcement about Shajarian's burial, which the media said was attended by his family, the culture minister, music veterans, artists and fans.

The official IRNA news agency said large screens were installed in the streets of the nearby city of Mashhad to allow his fans to watch the procession live.

However, state TV did not cover the event live and photos and videos were posted on semi-official websites hours after the funeral.

Shajarian was buried, as he had willed, in the vicinity of Ferdowsi's mausoleum in the northwestern city of Tus.

Video footage showed mourners singing Morgh-e Sahar (The Dawn Bird) over Shajarian's grave, an ode to freedom and revolution that he composed.