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Michael Jackson's funeral is likely to be the biggest in entertainment history, drawing tens of thousands of mourners and hundreds of millions of TV viewers.
It is expected to eclipse that of Elvis Presley in 1977, at which 75,000 fans lined the streets of Memphis, and could rival Princess Diana's 12 years ago, when 250,000 gathered in Hyde Park.
Even the funeral of silent film star Rudolph Valentino in New York in 1926 drew 40,000 fans.
Celebrity mourners at Jackson's service could include showbiz legends such as Sir Paul McCartney, who sang with him, and Elizabeth Taylor.
Even if his family insists on a private ceremony, it will be almost impossible to keep fans away.
Jackson was raised a Jehovah's Witness, forbidden from following funeral customs that are not mentioned in the Bible.
But there was speculation last year that Jackson had secretly converted to Islam.
When his death was confirmed by his brother Jermaine, who became a Muslim 20 years ago, he said: "May Allah be with you, Michael."
Though Jackson did not admit embracing Islam, he moved to Dubai after he was cleared of child abuse in 2005, and was linked to the American black Muslim organisation Nation of Islam, which provided security for him at his trial.
If a Muslim funeral takes place, the body is usually buried within two days of death.
However, it emerged last night that his body may not be buried at all, but could be preserved for ever in his famous moonwalk stance.
The claim was made by German doctor Gunther von Hagens. He said he had agreed with representatives of Jackson's family “months ago” that his body would be plastinated and placed next to the singer's late chimp Bubbles, who was preserved after his death and is on display in the show at the O2 arena.
A spokesman for Dr von Hagens said it was one of Jackson's last wishes to be reunited with Bubbles. While von Hagens is keen to keep the pose of the superstar's plastinate under wraps, he hinted that the moonwalk position would naturally be favoured.
It is hoped the exhibit will be unveiled towards the end of July for fans to visit and pay respects.
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(Agencies)
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邁克爾?杰克遜的葬禮有望成為娛樂界歷史上最盛大的葬禮，屆時將有數萬人前往悼念，同時還會有數億觀眾通過電視觀看。
據稱，葬禮盛況將超過1977年艾維斯·普萊斯利（貓王）的葬禮，當時有7.5萬名粉絲在孟菲斯街頭目送他遠去，同時還可能超越12年前戴安娜王妃的葬禮，當時有25萬人聚集在海德公園悼念她。
甚至1926年在紐約為無聲電影明星魯道夫?瓦倫蒂諾舉辦的葬禮也只有4萬名粉絲前往。
參加杰克遜葬禮的名人將包括一些娛樂界傳奇人物，例如與他同臺演唱過的保羅?麥卡特尼，以及伊麗莎白?泰勒。
盡管他的家人堅持舉辦一個私人葬禮，但幾乎不可能躲過粉絲。
杰克遜是耶和華見證人教會的一員，因此他的葬禮傳統不能超出《圣經》規定的范疇。
但也有傳言稱，杰克遜已于去年秘密改信伊斯蘭教。
當他的哥哥杰梅因?杰克遜證實這一死訊時，他說：“邁克爾，希望真主保佑你。”杰梅因在20年前就已經皈依伊斯蘭教。
盡管杰克遜并未承認皈依伊斯蘭教，但在2005年洗清虐童罪名后，他遷往迪拜，并與美國黑人穆斯林組織“伊斯蘭國家派”保持聯系，該組織曾負責他在審判時的安保工作。
如果按照穆斯林傳統舉辦葬禮，遺體通常會在逝后兩日內入土安葬。
但據昨晚消息，杰克遜的遺體有可能不入土安葬，而是以“月球漫步”的招牌舞姿被永久保存。
德國醫生岡瑟?馮?哈根斯公布了這一聲明。哈根斯稱，在幾個月之前，他就與杰克遜家屬代表達成了協議，將在其死后對遺體進行塑化保存，并安置在杰克遜已故的寵物猩猩“泡泡”身旁。“泡泡”在死后被塑化保存，目前在O2場館中展出。
馮?哈根斯博士的一位發言人稱，與“泡泡”團聚是杰克遜的遺愿之一。盡管馮?哈根斯想對天王的塑化保存姿勢保密，但他暗示稱當然會選擇月球漫步舞姿。
保存后的遺體有望于7月底對公眾展示，粉絲們可以前往參觀致意。
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（英語點津 實習生許雅寧編輯）
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