Official Iranian estimates gave the size of the crowds, lining the 32-km 20-mile route to Tehrans Behesht-e Zahra cemetery on June 11, 1989, for the funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as 10,200,000 people, that is one-sixth of the population of Iran. Western agencies etimated that 2 million paid their respects as the body lay in state. In the crush eight people were killed and 500 injured. At the funeral, hundreds of hands shredded the white shroud, exposing the pale body of the Ayatollah lying in the bottom of an open casket. Impassioned mourners sought to touch the body, delaying his burial.

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