‘Khamenei is not just for Iran’: Kashmir erupts in grief after Iran’s Supreme Leader’s ‘martyrdom’ in joint US-Israeli strikes

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Srinagar: A geopolitical earthquake centred in Iran has sent seismic ripples through the Kashmir Valley. Following reports that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during massive, joint military strikes by the United States and Israel, thousands of mourners and protesters flooded the streets across Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, plunging the region into a state of tense mourning.

The news, confirmed by Iranian state media, stated that the 86-year-old cleric, who led the Islamic Republic for over three decades,  was killed in the early hours of Saturday as Israeli and US forces targeted military and nuclear-linked sites across Iran.

“Here the Shia people have come from Kashmir, from here and wherever Shias are in the world, we will come for him”, one of the mourners told news agency IANS.

A sea of black flags and tears

As the report reached the valley, traditional mourning chants (Nauha) echoed through the streets of Srinagar, Budgam, Pattan, Sonawari, and Bandipora. For the region’s Shia Muslim community, Khamenei was not merely a head of state but a Marja-e-Taqlid, a supreme source of religious emulation.

“Khamenei is not just for Iran; he belonged to all of us,” cried one protester during a massive procession in the city center Lal Chowk. Visuals from the scene showed a sea of black flags, portraits of the fallen leader, and emotional crowds, including men, women, and children weeping openly.

Confrontations at the UN office

The grief quickly turned to rage directed at the US and Israel. In Srinagar, a large group of protesters attempted to march toward the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) office.

“Today, our beloved leader, Ali Khamenei, was brutally martyred…. Yes, this mourning procession is going on peacefully,” said one of the protestors marching towards UNMOGIP office.

Security forces, led by J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat, were deployed in heavy numbers to intercept the march and maintain law and order. Protesters shouted slogans against the “oppressive” actions of the US and Israel, as well as their global allies. Mourners could be heard shouting, “down-down, America and America Murdabad,” slogans to register their protest against the US.

Political firestorm in the valley

The death has sparked fierce reactions from Kashmir’s top political leadership. Syed Agha Ruhullah Mehndi, the Srinagar MP, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a Quranic verse regarding those who trade their lives for Paradise, explicitly “congratulating” Khamenei on achieving martyrdom.

The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, expressing deep concern over the “unfolding developments,” the CM issued a plea for calm, urging all communities to uphold peace and avoid actions that could trigger further unrest.

Kashmir’s chief cleric and senior religious leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, expressed “profound sadness and outrage” over what he described as a “brutal killing” that has shaken the foundations of the Muslim world.

In a poignant statement, the Mirwaiz condemned the ongoing military aggression against Iran, specifically highlighting the tragic collateral damage of the strikes, including the loss of “innocent girl students in Minab.” He framed this moment as a critical turning point for the global “Ummah,” urging Muslims to transcend internal divisions and stand united in the face of external aggression.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir collectively denounce this brutality,” the Mirwaiz stated. “In this moment of immense sorrow, our hearts resonate with the resilient people of Iran. May Allah grant strength to the oppressed and deliver swift justice to those accountable.”

MMU declares region-wide strike

Acting on this sentiment, the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU), the Valley’s apex body of religious organisations, has officially called for a complete strike tomorrow. The Mirwaiz urged the public to observe the shutdown with “unity, dignity, and total peacefulness,” intended as a silent but powerful protest against the escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

“The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU) has called for a complete strike tomorrow. We urge everyone to observe it with unity, dignity, and total peacefulness,” he added.

Government response and security

With the situation remaining volatile, the Government of Jammu & Kashmir confirmed it is in constant contact with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi. Their primary focus is ensuring the safety of J&K residents and students currently living or studying in Iran.