The Cuban government has declared an official mourning period starting this Tuesday following the tragic death of the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, who perished in a plane crash last Sunday. The regime described Raisi as "a great friend and an admirable politician."
The mourning period commenced at 6:00 AM on Tuesday and will end at midnight on Wednesday, May 22, as announced by the Presidency of Cuba. During this time, the Cuban flag will be flown at half-mast on public buildings and military institutions.
"During his tenure as President since 2021, he significantly contributed to the development and strengthening of the friendship and cooperation between our two nations," the official statement said regarding Ebrahim Raisi.
The note further stated, "The Cuban people and government stand with Iran in this moment of grief and express their confidence that the Islamic Revolution will continue and recover from this unfortunate event."
This Monday, President Díaz-Canel had already expressed his condolences for the helicopter accident that claimed the life of Raisi along with other Iranian politicians, including the Foreign Minister, Hosein Amir Abdolahian.
"The Party, the Government, and the people of Cuba deeply mourn the loss of a great friend and an admirable politician beloved by his people: the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi," Díaz-Canel stated the day before.
Cuban netizens reacted with indignation to the announcement, demanding that the government not speak on their behalf.
"The people of Cuba? Did you ask them? Honestly, I don't think they lament this accident at all. On the contrary, they realize that there is something called divine justice. You, buddy, will also get to know it," one man predicted.
"An admirable politician who killed more than five thousand prisoners in the '80s and led a country where women have no rights... these are the references of communist Cuba," reminded democracy activist Mag Jorge Castro.
Meanwhile, Lis Cuesta shared the ruler's tweet and sent condolences to the wife and daughter of the Iranian president, as well as to the people of Iran.
The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, died along with several high-ranking officials who were with him in the helicopter, such as the Foreign Minister, the Governor of East Azerbaijan Province, and the region's chief Imam. The Ayatollah regime is a close ally of the Castro dictatorship.
Raisi hosted Díaz-Canel this past December in Tehran during his tour of Middle Eastern countries. The Cuban leader spoke of his intention to strengthen ties with the Islamic country and for it to become an important economic player to help Cuba out of its crisis.
As part of the official delegation accompanying Díaz-Canel was his wife, who was "delighted" to tour Iran, visiting museums in the Saad Abad cultural-historical complex and enthusiastically taking pictures with her cell phone.
The Iranian president traveled to Havana in June, where he met with Díaz-Canel and Raúl Castro.
At the official reception, the Cuban president emphasized the "unity among those of us who have been condemned for wanting to build societies different from the one the Yankee paradigm seeks to impose, and for that, we have faced blockades and unjust, inhumane, and unjustified sanctions."
Questions About the Cuban Mourning for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi
Below are some frequently asked questions regarding the official mourning declared by the Cuban government for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
Why did the Cuban government declare official mourning for Ebrahim Raisi?
The Cuban government declared official mourning to honor Ebrahim Raisi, whom they described as a close friend and an admirable politician who contributed significantly to the relationship between Cuba and Iran.
How long will the official mourning period last?
The official mourning period started at 6:00 AM on Tuesday and will end at midnight on Wednesday, May 22.
How did Cuban citizens react to the government's announcement?
Many Cuban citizens reacted with indignation, criticizing the government for speaking on their behalf and questioning the sincerity of the mourning declaration.
What other high-ranking officials were involved in the accident?
Other high-ranking officials who died in the helicopter crash included the Foreign Minister, the Governor of East Azerbaijan Province, and the chief Imam of the region.