Srinagar, March01 : Thousands of people poured into the streets across Kashmir following reports of the US-Israeli assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, a figure revered by a significant section of Muslims in the region.
Large crowds chanting anti-US and anti-Israel slogans marched through parts of Srinagar, Budgam in central Kashmir, and dozens of towns across north and south Kashmir. Reports also indicated major demonstrations in the Ladakh region, particularly in Shia-majority areas.
In Srinagar, thousands of demonstrators carrying portraits of Khamenei gathered at Lal Chowk, the city’s historic political nerve centre, where protests were ongoing at the time of reporting. Many mourners expressed deep grief over the death of the 86-year-old cleric, whose portraits prominently adorn public squares in the city and are also visible in rural parts of the Valley.
In Shia-majority areas such as Budgam and Kargil in Ladakh, crowds filled the streets wailing and beating their chests in mourning, describing Khamenei as their spiritual leader.
Several prominent religious and political figures condemned the reported assassination, calling it destabilising and dangerous for the wider region.
Kashmir’s chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, expressed deep sorrow and outrage, holding the United States and Israel responsible for what he termed a “brutal killing” that has sent shockwaves through the Muslim world.
Mirwaiz condemned what he described as ongoing aggression against Iran and referenced reports of civilian casualties, including what he called the “massacre of innocent girl students in Minab.” He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir collectively denounce the act.
“Deeply saddened and outraged at the brutal killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei by the US and Israel that has shaken the Muslim world,” he said, adding that it was an hour of immense sorrow and expressing solidarity with the people of Iran.
Mirwaiz also called upon the Muslim Ummah to rise above divisions and stand united against continued aggression in the region.
In a significant development, he announced that the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU), an amalgam of religious scholars, has called for a complete strike across Kashmir on Monday. He urged people to observe the shutdown peacefully, with unity and dignity.
Other leaders, including Agha Syed Hassan, Maulana Masroor Abbas and Agha Syed Hadi, also condemned the killing, warning of far-reaching consequences for regional stability.
Authorities have heightened security in several districts amid concerns over further demonstrations. The situation remains tense but largely peaceful, according to local sources.
The protests in Kashmir reflect the deep emotional and religious resonance Khamenei held among sections of the region’s Shia population, and underscore the broader regional fallout from the escalating confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
