Arabic to English Art/Literary Other Libyan author

Hi all,

This phrase appears in a Libyan short story about the different conversations people have when waiting in long queues (e.g. for petrol and bread) in Benghazi:

- أين فلان لم نره منذ فترة في طابور البنك؟

- إنه واقف في طابور العزاء...قريبه مات في الحرب.

- لقد ارتاح من هذه الحياة.

I want to understand more about what طابور العزاء implies. What are the people queuing for - to see the coffin before it's taken to be buried? To visit the family in mourning?

Many thanks for your comments.
Anam