Shia Muslims In J&K Stage Protest Over Killing Of Khamenei, Say ‘Waiting For Orders From Ayatollah Sistani'

Shia Muslims in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, staged demonstrations on Sunday following reports that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint strikes carried out by the United States and Israel.

Protesters gathered in different parts of the city, including Lal Chowk and the Saida Kadal area, expressing grief and anger over the reported development.

The demonstrations were largely peaceful, with participants holding mourning processions and raising slogans in memory of the Iranian leader.

Mourning Processions in City Centre

At Lal Chowk, several protesters were seen participating in matam (ritual mourning) to express their sorrow. One protester said:
"Today, our beloved leader, Ali Khamenei, was brutally martyred. Yes, this mourning procession is going on peacefully in the city centre."
Another participant compared Khamenei's reported death to historical events in Islamic history, saying:

"Aaj humare Khamenei ko shaheed kiya gaya bahut buri tarah se, jaise tanhay Imam Hussain alaih salam ko kiya gaya. Bas hum ab wait kar rahe hain apne marja-e-ali, Hazrat Ayatollah Sistani ke ki woh kya hukum denge. Hum usi hukum pe amal karenge."

(Today our Khamenei was martyred in a very brutal way, like Imam Hussain was. Now we are waiting for guidance from our senior religious authority, Ayatollah Sistani, and we will act according to his instructions.)

Another protester said:

"We have received news from Iran that revolutionary Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is no more. He has been brutally killed by the US and Israel. We are all saddened by this incident."

Emotional Reactions from Protesters

People in the Saida Kadal area also gathered to protest against the reported killing. Demonstrators described Khamenei as a leader who stood for Muslim causes globally.
One mourner stated:

"We got news from Iran that the revolutionary Supreme Leader Khamenei is no more. He has been brutally killed by a US-Israel joint operation. So we are doing matam in sorrow at Lal Chowk. We are all sad, as he was the only one who stood with the Muslims."
The protests remained under security monitoring, but no major incidents were reported.

Khamenei's Past Statements on India

Ayatollah Khamenei had previously commented on issues concerning Muslims in India. In 2020, he posted on social media:

"The hearts of Muslims all over the world are grieving over the massacre of Muslims in India. The govt of India should confront extremist Hindus & their parties & stop the massacre of Muslims in order to prevent India's isolation from the world of Islam."
His past remarks had drawn strong reactions at the time.

Tensions Beyond the Middle East

Iran's state media has officially confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the recent US-Israel strikes on Tehran. The announcement came on Sunday, ending hours of intense speculation about his condition. According to Iranian reports, Khamenei died in the early hours of Saturday during coordinated attacks targeting key locations in the capital.

Along with the Supreme Leader, several members of his immediate family were also reported killed. State-affiliated news agency Fars said that his daughter, son-in-law, grandchild, and one of his daughters-in-law lost their lives in the same strike. The agency cited sources close to the Supreme Leader's office but did not provide detailed information about how the attack unfolded.

State TV Announces 40 Days of Mourning

Iran's state television confirmed the death in an emotional broadcast. The presenter, appearing visibly shaken, announced that the country would observe 40 days of national mourning in honour of Khamenei.

Shortly after the broadcast, Iran's National Security Council issued a statement mourning his death. The statement said that his killing would become "the launchpad for a great uprising against the tyrants," signalling a strong reaction to the attack.