Thai Muslims across the country attended prayers at mosques to bid farewell to the late Muslim spiritual leader Chularajmontri (Sheikhul Islam of Thailand), Aziz Phithakkumpol, who passed away on Sunday at Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

Aziz’s body was flown on an Air Force C-130 transport plane from Don Mueang airport to his place of birth place in Songkhla province yesterday (Sunday), for funeral rites today at the central masjid of Songkhla.

President of the Privy Council, General Surayud Chulanont, attended the funeral on behalf of His Majesty the King, while Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanich, representing the government, also attended.

Many Thai Muslims in Songkhla, and from other southern provinces, also joined in prayer at the central masjid in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province.

A similar religious ceremony was held simultaneously at the Foundation of Islamic Centre of Thailand in Bangkok, which was attended by envoys from several Middle Eastern countries, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.

Aziz Phithakkumpol was the 18th Chularajmontri of Thailand.