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Episode details

Radio 4,05 Jul 2026,44 mins

Ayatollah Khamenei's Funeral, 'Conversion Therapy', Football Fever in Mexico

Sunday

Available for over a year

As mourners gather in Iran to pay their respects to the country's former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, we hear from Tehran about the significance of the six-day funeral. His body is currently lying in state at the Grand Mosalla mosque and will travel to several religiously significant cities before a burial in his hometown of Mashhad. Authorities expect 15-20 million people to attend the ceremonies across Iran and Iraq which take place more than four months after Khamenei was killed in US and Israeli strikes. So called 'conversion therapy' is set to be criminalised under draft legislation put before Parliament. This is the practice where someone tries to change or suppress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. Under the draft Conversion Practices Bill perpetrators of abusive practices could face up to five years in prison. We dissect the different views around the Bill, from an advocate who argues it will offer essential protection, to those who say it could criminalise preachers simply offering help and support. And with all eyes on Mexico ahead of England's round of 16 tie against the country at the Azteca Stadium, we hear from the Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City which has allowed a statue of the Christ child to be dressed in the national team's shirt and put on the altar. Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: James Graham, Rebecca Kelly and Liberty Phelan Studio Managers: Teifi James and Helen Williams Editor: Dan Tierney

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