The site is a place of pilgrimage for followers of Khomeini. It is used symbolically by government figures, and is on occasion visited by foreign dignitaries.[4] Every year, Khomeini's death anniversary is marked on 4 June at the mausoleum in a ceremony that is attended by governmental officials, foreign ambassadors, and others. Khomeini's grandson Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan Khomeini is in charge of caring for the mausoleum.[5]
Specifications
The architect of the tomb was Mohammed Tehrani.[2] The exterior of the shrine complex is a highly recognizable landmark. It has a gold dome sitting on a high drum, surrounded by four free-standing minarets.[6] The shrine is surrounded by a large rectangular plaza which has been designed to hold vast numbers of visitors. With its size, inclusion of a qibla wall and a maqsura, the tomb resembles a mosque, but has been called an Hussainia.[7]
Zarih inside the mausoleumInside zarihTombs in the yard
Incidents
On 20 June 2009, a suicide bomb attack occurred near the site of the Mausoleum, in which the attacker was killed and three pilgrims were injured, according to state media.[9]
On 7 June 2017, the mausoleum was attacked by three gunmen [10][11] while a suicide bomber detonated a bomb at the mausoleum.[12] One female militant attacker was captured.[13] Government officials later claimed to have thwarted a third attack.[12] One person died and five people were injured. Others attacked the parliament building at the same time.
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