PHOTOS: Saudi Arabia buries King Abdullah

• Posted on January 23, 2015January 23, 2015
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The body of King Abdullah was shrouded in a simple cloth after being carried in to the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Riyadh

The body of King Abdullah was carried into a mosque in Riyadh this afternoon as his funeral began, less than 24 hours after Saudi Arabia was plunged into mourning by his death.

The monarch was shrouded in a simple cloth as he was carried into the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Riyadh on a stretcher by Saudi dignitaries.

The royal died last night aged 90 after losing his battle with pneumonia and will be buried in an unmarked grave later today, in keeping with Muslim traditions.

Saudi Arabia is in mourning, with tens of thousands gathering in Riyadh and Mecca to pay their respects.

Prince Charles, on behalf of the Queen, will visit the oil-rich Kingdom to offer his condolences, Clarence House announced.

Abdullah’s death was confirmed on state television yesterday with channels cutting to Koranic verses – only used following the death of a senior royal.

His funeral is taking place in Riyadh, where, in keeping with Muslim traditions, Abdullah’s body was shrouded in a simple cloth as he was carried in by men wearing red-and-white checked headgear.

He will later be buried in an unmarked grave, believed to show humility and a respect for Allah.

Abdullah’s predecessors and other half brothers have also been interred in unmarked graves in the al-Aoud cemetery where he will be buried later, as well as in other simple graveyards in other cities.

Prayers will be led by King Salman, 79, who has succeeded his half-brother as King of Saudi Arabia.

The funeral is being attended by Muslim heads of state and other senior figures, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Also in attendance were Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani, and Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.

However, President Abdel Fatteh al-Sisi of Egypt, one of Abdullah’s closest allies, was unable to attend thanks to poor weather stopping his flight from the Davos World Economic Forum.

Non-Muslim dignitaries will visit new monarch and crown prince, and other members of the Al Saud dynasty, in the coming days.

Prince Charles, on behalf of the Queen, will also visit Saudi Arabia in the coming days to offer his condolences, Clarence House announced.

In a mark of respect, Buckingham Palace lowered its flag to half-mast this afternoon.

Later, following the evening prayer an hour after sunset, the new King Salman and Crown Prince Muqrin will receive pledges of allegiance from other ruling family members, Wahhabi clerics, tribal chiefs, leading businessmen and other Saudi subjects.

Daily Mail