Protests across UP over killing of Iran's supreme leader Khamenei

Lucknow, Mar 1 (PTI) Protests were held in various districts of Uttar Pradesh, including the state capital Lucknow, on Sunday to protest the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli attack.

Describing Khamenei's martyrdom as a huge loss to humanity and the silencing of a strong voice for their rights, the protesters held demonstrations at the Chhota Imambara in Lucknow and condemned the "cowardly" act of the US and Israel.

The All India Shia Personal Law Board has announced a massive protest at Lucknow's Chhota Imambara on Sunday night. Shia religious leader Maulana Kalbe Jawad has also announced a condolence meeting and a candlelight vigil.

Khamenei was killed in an airstrike in Tehran on Saturday during a joint Israel-US attack on Iran. Iranian state media confirmed the same on Sunday, triggering a wave of protests and mourning across the world, including India.

According to reports from Jaunpur, angry protesters marched from the Imambara in Pandariba, in the city's Kotwali area, holding placards bearing anti-US and Israeli slogans and a picture of Khamenei. A large number of women were also present during the procession.

Shia cleric Maulana Mohammad Raza, who participated in the procession, said that the way the US attacked and killed Shia leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has exposed their true identity to the entire world.

Protesters prayed for the well-being of the people of Iran and demanded appropriate security measures for Indians living in countries affected by the attack.

According to reports from Aligarh, a large number of people gathered near Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and held a demonstration against the attack that killed the Shia leader along with his family members.

Although no specific organisation had called for this protest, a large number of people had gathered and headed towards the AMU campus, where a large number of students also joined them.

The protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to the President, demanding that India express its clear protest against the brutal killing of dozens of schoolchildren in the unprovoked bombing of civilian areas in Iran by the US military.

Meanwhile, former AMU student leader Mehboob Alam told reporters, "Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was not only the spiritual leader of the Shia world community but also the voice of all those who stood against the imperialist forces posing a serious threat to world peace. His death in the bombing is a grave loss to humanity." Over 200 km away, in Muzaffarnagar, thousands of Shia Muslims marched with Khamenei's photographs from the Kidwai Nagar area to Fakharshah Chowk and sent a memorandum to the President of India through the district magistrate.

Shia cleric Asad Raza Hussaini said, "We condemn the brutal assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei in Iran." Similar scenes of protest were witnessed in Jhansi, too, where a large number of Shia community members gathered at Masjid-e-Imamiya in the Mewatipura area of the city to mourn the death of Khamenei, and called it an attack on world peace.

Cleric Haider Zaidi said, "Our community opposes any form of oppression. This military action by the attackers is a form of bullying and against humanity. We will continue to raise our voice against this attack in a non-violent manner." Meanwhile, strict security arrangements have been made in the district in view of the protests.

Reports of protests against Khamenei's assassination also came from various districts of the state, including Ambedkar Nagar, Rampur, Barabanki, Shahjahanpur, and Ghaziabad. PTI SLM/NAV AMJ AMJ