Death and state funeral of Fahd of Saudi Arabia

Death and State Funeral of Fahd of Saudi Arabia
Date1 August 2005
(date of death)
2 August 2005
(date of funeral)
VenueKing Faisal Specialist Hospital (death)
Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque (funeral)
LocationRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
ParticipantsFuneral attendees

Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, died on the morning of 1 August 2005, at the age of 84,[a] in the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh. His funeral was held the next day.

In response to Fahd's death, an emergency Arab League summit, which was originally planned to take place in Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt), was delayed with no rescheduled date confirmed.[2] Many world leaders offered condolences, and several countries declared a period of national mourning.[3][4]

Illness and death

In June 1982, Fahd ascended to the throne following the passing of his half-brother, Khaled. After experiencing a stroke in 1995, the king's health declined, leading to Crown Prince Abdullah assuming his half-brother's functions as regent.[1]

On 27 May 2005, Fahd was admitted to the King Faisal Specialist Hospital due to pneumonia and a high fever. He died there on 1 August at around 09:30 KSA time. The official announcement of his death was made by the Minister of Information, Iyad bin Amin Madani, and Saudi television interrupted regular programming with recitations of the Quran.[4]

Fahd's half-brother Abdullah, as crown prince, ascended the throne as king, and appointed Prince Sultan, Minister of Defense, as the new crown prince.[4] A formal bay'ah ceremony was held in which clerics, tribal leaders and government officials pledged allegiance to the new king.[5]

Funeral

In accordance with Islamic tradition, Fahd's funeral took place at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque the day after his death.[6] It was closed to non-Muslim dignitaries, who separately held meetings with the new king later.[5]

Attendees

Royalty

Other

Notes

  1. ^ His exact date of birth is unknown.[1]
  2. ^ Deposed in a coup d'état while attending the funeral.

References

  1. ^ a b Reed, Jennifer (2009). The Saudi Royal Family. Infobase. ISBN 978-1-4381-0476-8.
  2. ^ "Arab Summit Postponed after King Fahd's Death". Voice of America. 2005. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  3. ^ "World leaders mourn King Fahd". Al Jazeera. 1 August 2005. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Sturcke, James (1 August 2005). "Saudi king dies". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Clerics, chiefs pledge loyalty to new Saudi king". NBC News. 2 August 2005. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d "الملك فهد يوارى الثرى في الرياض بحضور عربي وعالمي". Al Jazeera (in Arabic). 2 August 2005. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d "كونا : السعودية تشيع الملك فهد الى مثواه الاخير - عام - 02/08/2005". www.kuna.net.kw.
  8. ^ a b c "جثمان الملك فهد يُوارى الثرى بعد صلاة العصر". Radio Sawa (in Arabic). 2 August 2005. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Cheney, elder Bush call on new Saudi king". NBC News. 5 August 2005.
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