RNA – Ayatollah Abbas Vaez-Tabasi, a senior Iranian cleric died, at the age of 80. He was admitted to the hospital a couple of days ago due to respiratory problems.
Three days of public mourning have been declared in the province of Khorasan-e Razavi for the late cleric. The whole schools and state organizations in Mashhad, the provincial capital, will be closed on Saturday.
The governor of Khorasan-e Razavi province, Ali-Reza Rashidian, said a funeral ceremony will be held for the senior religious figure on Saturday. Senior officials and people from all walks of life are set to attend the procession.
Born in the holy city of Mashhad in 1935, Ayatollah Vaez-Tabasi began to get religious schooling in different seminaries at 12 years of age.
Soon after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini appointed Ayatollah Vaez-Tabasi as the chief custodian and trustee of the Astan Quds Razavi.
The late cleric’s first plan after taking control of the trusteeship of Astan Quds Razavi was to conduct a thorough review of the whole endowment and religious offerings belonging to the organization with all details.
Astan Quds Razavi is a charitable foundation in Mashhad that administers the holy shrine of Imam al-Ridha and the endowments bestowed on the trusteeship.
In a statement on Friday, Iran’s Assembly of Experts offered condolences to the nation on the passing of Ayatollah Vaez-Tabasi and praised the prominent cleric’s tireless efforts in serving Shia pilgrims and defending Imam Khomeini’s ideals.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif also issued a statement and extended his condolences to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, as well as the Iranian nation and religious officials on the death of Ayatollah Vaez-Tabasi.
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