SRINAGAR: Hundreds of Kashmiri Shia Muslims on Sunday staged a peaceful protest in Srinagar following reports of the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in alleged US-Israeli strikes.
Protesters gathered in the city centre, raising slogans condemning the United States and Israel while expressing solidarity with Iran. Participants carried black flags, portraits of Khamenei, and banners in support of the Islamic Republic. Traditional mourning chants (Nauha) were recited during the procession.
One protester described the demonstration as a peaceful mourning procession, saying the community was deeply saddened by the news from Iran. Another participant said the gathering was meant to express grief and solidarity following what they termed a “brutal killing.”
For many in the Shia Muslim community in Srinagar, Khamenei was regarded not merely as a foreign political figure but as a Marja-e-Taqlid (Source of Emulation), a significant religious authority in Shia Islam.
Iran has reportedly declared 40 days of national mourning following the development. In Shia tradition, the 40th day after death, known as Arba’een, carries deep spiritual significance. Iranian state media has described his death as “martyrdom,” framing it as a sacrifice for national sovereignty.
Khamenei, who succeeded Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, led Iran for over three decades and played a central role in shaping the country’s political and religious direction.
Security has reportedly been heightened in major Iranian cities, including Tehran, amid concerns about potential unrest. Attention is now turning to the process of selecting a successor, a development that could significantly influence the future political trajectory of the Islamic Republic.
Authorities in Srinagar maintained that Sunday’s protest remained peaceful, with no reports of violence.
