Urmia's Account of the Farewell Ceremony

The city of Urmia held a farewell ceremony for those who were martyred in the recent events, with thousands of residents participating in the procession. The atmosphere was filled with grief and determination, as families bid goodbye to their loved ones who lost their lives.

• The martyrs were carried through the main streets of Urmia, with mourners chanting slogans and carrying banners bearing their names and photographs.
• Local officials and religious leaders were present at the ceremony, delivering speeches that emphasized the sacrifice of the martyrs and their place in the history of the city.
• Citizens from various walks of life — shopkeepers, students, teachers, and workers — joined the procession to pay their respects and express their solidarity with the bereaved families.
• The ceremony lasted several hours, during which religious rituals were performed according to Islamic traditions.. While national media focused on the political dimensions of the events, local coverage in Urmia emphasized the personal stories of the martyrs and the profound impact of their loss on the community's social fabric. This human-centered approach highlighted the everyday lives of those who were killed and their deep connections within the city.

# Those Left Behind; Urmia's Account of a Farewell That Refused to Remain Incomplete