Turkey’s Erdogan denied chance to speak at Muhammad Ali’s funeral

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King Abdullah II of Jordan had been scheduled to speak at the service at Muhammad Ali’s memorial service but the legend’s family spokesman Bob Gunnell said Monday, June 6 that two other speakers will be added to the current program, meaning there won’t be room for foreign dignitaries, The Times of Israel reports.

Gunnell said both their offices were “gracious and understood.” He said the names of the two additional speakers will be revealed later Monday.

The ceremony, which will be presided over by California imam and scholar Zaid Shakir, will be opened by representatives of multiple faiths, including Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Mormonism and Catholicism. They will be followed by speeches from Ali’s wife, Lonnie Ali; daughter Maryum Ali; former U.S. President Bill Clinton; actor Billy Crystal and sportscaster Bryant Gumbel.

Gunnell did not confirm whether U.S. President Barack Obama would attend, and the White House has given no indication of his plans, The Times of Israel says.

The actor Will Smith and former boxing world champion Lennox Lewis will serve as pallbearers together with six other people.

Organizers said that the three-time world heavyweight champion helped plan the ceremony himself as a “last statement” to the world.

The charismatic Ali, a dazzling fighter and outspoken civil rights activist who became one of the 20th century’s towering figures, died last Friday at age 74 after health problems complicated by a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.