The funeral of Iranian music Morteza Pashaei on Sunday drew thousands of mourners to south Tehran, despite government opposition to Western-influenced entertainment or large public gatherings.

The crowds recalled the mass anti-government protests in 2009 that rocked the Islamic Republic, even if Pashaei’s music crossed Iran’s political and social divides.

Pashaie, who died on Friday of pancreatic cancer at the age of 30, appealed both to Westernised residents of Tehran and the traditionally devout.

His funeral procession, aired on the strictly controlled state television, brought out both supporters of the Islamic government and secular-minded critics, in a rare moment of solidarity in a polarised country.

Mourners in black sobbed, sang and waved his album cover.

France24