TEHRAN, Iran: Large number of common people as well as heads of executive, legislative and judicial branches, and senior military and administrative authorities participated in the funeral ceremony of the late chief of Experts Assembly of Iran Ayatullah Ali Meshkini which was held at the mosque of Tehran University, downtown Tehran.

Ayatullah Meshkini, 86, suffering from pulmonic disease, was hospitalized in Tehran for some time and passed away on July 30.

He was also Friday prayers leader of the holy city of Qom in addition to being the chairman of the Experts Assembly.

He was the writer of many books on Islamic jurisprudence and general issues of Islam.

The ceremony started at the mosque of Tehran University, downtown Tehran, at 08:00 local time (0430 GMT).

his corpse was taken to the holy city of Qom, 160 km south of Tehran, where he was laid to rest in the holy shrine of Hazret-e-Fatimah Masumah (a.s.).