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Shia Muslims across India mourned Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death in the US-Israel airstrike, holding protests and prayer meetings in Lucknow, Delhi, Kashmir, Alipur and other areas
A protest rally was also held in Hyderabad to condemn the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (PTI)
Shia Muslims across India held protests, prayer meetings and mourning processions after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israel airstrike in Tehran on Saturday, February 28. Demonstrations were reported from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, with mourners condemning the attack and expressing solidarity with Iran.
In Lucknow, members of the Shia community gathered at the Chhota Imambara to pay tribute to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Shia cleric Maulana Syed Kalbe Jawad said the people of Iran would “never surrender”, and predicted defeat for Israel and the United States. Students at Aligarh Muslim University organised a candle march and funeral prayers. Maulana Bahlol Raza said the protest was meant to send a message that voices would always be raised for the oppressed. “This is a message for everyone that wherever the oppressed are killed, we will speak up for them. Khamenei has been killed, but today thousands of Khameneis have been born,” he said.
In Ayodhya, members of the All India Shia community held a candle march demanding justice and expressing hope for swift retaliation against those responsible. In Indore, the Shia community joined the nationwide protests, carrying portraits of the Iranian Supreme Leader and chanting slogans in his honour.
In Jammu, Shia groups also gathered to express grief and anger over the killing. “America and Israel cowardly martyred our leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Talks were happening on one side, and on the other, they martyred him. His martyrdom will not end the war, it will make it worse. Earlier, two countries were fighting; now seven countries are being attacked. The people of Iran have never bowed down, and they never will. Israel and America will be defeated,” one speaker said.
New Delhi
Protests broke out in several parts of the national capital after news of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death, prompting authorities to step up security measures across sensitive areas. Demonstrations were reported near the Iran Cultural House in Delhi, where a meeting was scheduled to mark the Iranian leader’s death. Groups of protesters gathered outside the premises, expressing grief and anger over the strikes. Protesters were also seen raising slogans in parts of Jor Bagh.
“It is an attack against the United Nations charter and humanity. One country is doing as they wish. They are trying to divert attention from the Epstein issue,” The Indian Express quopted a protester dressed in black as saying.
Mohseen Taqvi, Imam of Jama Masjid, condemned the killing and blamed the United States for escalating tensions. “Khamenei sahab has been martyred. Donald Trump is not just against Iran, he is against humanity. No one wanted this. Not even Americans. It’s just Trump. Look what he is doing to our own country. We are being told what to buy, where to buy,” he said.
Police deployed additional personnel in areas with significant Shia populations and near diplomatic missions as a precautionary measure. Barricades were placed along certain stretches near protest sites to regulate movement, and paramilitary personnel assisted local police in maintaining vigil. A senior police officer said adequate security arrangements had been made to ensure law and order. “We have deployed additional forces as a precautionary step. The situation is peaceful and under control. We are monitoring social media and ground inputs closely,” the officer said.
Police said the protests remained largely peaceful. “We are in touch with community leaders and organisers. So far, there has been no report of violence or damage to property,” another officer said.
Prayagraj
In Prayagraj’s Dariyabad area, large numbers of residents took to the streets after news of Khamenei’s death triggered anger among the Shia community. Participants organised a procession in which women and children also took part. The demonstration reflected strong resentment against the United States and Israel, with protesters raising slogans throughout the march. Members of the Shia community burned an effigy of US President Donald Trump and struck it with slippers as a symbolic act of protest.
Speakers at the protest said Khamenei had been targeted because he never accepted American dominance and accused the US of killing him through deceit. Participants also paid tribute to those killed in the ongoing conflict and described the Iranian leader’s death as a major loss for the Muslim world.
Barabanki
In Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki, the Shia community organised mourning gatherings and protests in response to Khamenei’s death, which many described as martyrdom. Men, women, elders and children joined the demonstrations carrying portraits of the Iranian leader as a mark of respect. Candle marches were organised across the town, with participants walking through streets in silence before assembling for prayer meetings.
According to local accounts, Syed Ahmad Musavi, Khamenei’s grandfather, was born in Kintur before travelling to West Asia in the 19th century, eventually settling in Iran. His descendants later rose to prominence in the country’s religious and political life, culminating in Khamenei’s leadership during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Community members held gatherings to express sorrow and solidarity with Iran, describing Khamenei as both a religious guide and a spiritual leader. Participants said the protests were meant to honour his legacy and to condemn the joint US-Israel strikes that killed him.
Aligarh
At Aligarh Muslim University, funeral prayers were offered in memory of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before students and community members organised a candle march. The procession began at the university Jama Masjid and moved towards the Bab-e-Syed gate. Participants carried candles and raised slogans condemning the strikes while paying tribute to the Iranian leader. Organisers described the gathering as both a mourning event and a protest against what they called injustice.
Srinagar And The Kashmir Valley
The strongest reaction to Khamenei’s killing was seen in Kashmir, where authorities imposed strict restrictions after large protests broke out across several districts. The historic Ghanta Ghar at Lal Chowk in Srinagar was sealed off with barricades, while police and CRPF personnel were deployed throughout the city to prevent gatherings. Restrictions were imposed at key intersections and roads leading into the city, with wires and barricades set up to control movement.
Protests were reported from Lal Chowk, Saida Kadal, Budgam, Bandipora, Anantnag and Pulwama, where demonstrators marched through streets beating their chests and raising anti-US and anti-Israel slogans. Authorities said the restrictions were precautionary measures to maintain law and order.
Kashmir, which has an estimated Shia population of around 15 lakh, witnessed widespread mourning processions. Men and women from the Shia community participated in demonstrations in Srinagar, Sonawari and Bandipora carrying portraits of Khamenei. “Shias are not scared of martyrdom. We are with Rehbar Khamenei and out on streets in solidarity with them,” a female protester said in Baramulla.
Mobile internet speeds were reduced across the Kashmir Valley as a precaution after protests erupted. Educational institutions, including private schools, were closed for two days to ensure student safety and maintain order. Police also issued an advisory asking media organisations to exercise caution and avoid spreading unverified information or rumours. “Please avoid publishing unverified information, speculation, or rumours. Make sure all reports are confirmed by reliable sources before sharing. Do not use sensational headlines that could cause unnecessary panic,” the advisory said.
The restrictions followed a shutdown call issued by Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulama chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. “We urge people to observe it with unity, dignity and complete peace,” Mirwaiz said.
The shutdown call was supported by several political parties including the PDP led by Mehbooba Mufti. “We fully support and stand with Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s shutdown call on the martyrdom of Iran’s Supreme Leader. This is a day of mourning to remind the world that injustice anywhere hurts the entire Muslim community and everyone who stands for truth,” Mufti said.
Political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir also condemned the strikes. Mirwaiz described the attack as a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region and criticised what he called the lack of international accountability for Israel’s actions. Mehbooba Mufti described Iran as a defining voice of the Muslim world and said no missile could break its spirit.
Shia organisations also issued statements mourning Khamenei’s death and expressing solidarity with Iran. The Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association said it mourned the martyrdom of the leader’s family members and prayed for the people of Iran.
Alipur
The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei triggered an especially strong reaction in Alipur village in Karnataka‘s Chikkaballapur district, often referred to as ‘Mini Iran’ because of its large Shia population and longstanding cultural links with Iran. Residents observed an unannounced voluntary three-day bandh in mourning. Shops, commercial establishments and local institutions remained closed as residents gathered in the streets to express grief and anger over the killing.
The reaction in Alipur was shaped by a personal connection with Khamenei, who visited the village during his India tour in February 1981 after meeting then prime minister Indira Gandhi. During the visit, he interacted with local scholars and residents, forging a bond that has endured for decades. For many families in the village, Khamenei was regarded not merely as a foreign leader but as a personal mentor and spiritual guide.
Black flags were draped across houses and mosques while residents marched through the streets carrying portraits of the Iranian leader. “He was not just a Shia leader, his message was for all communities. America and Israel have carried out this attack and some Arab countries have also backed it. It’s a loss to the world. Hence we closed all establishments in Alipur for three days,” a demonstrator said.
The shutdown required increased security arrangements, with Chikkaballapur district police deploying additional personnel to monitor the situation and prevent unrest during the large gatherings. Community leaders said the shutdown would continue until mourning rites were completed.
Hyderabad
A protest rally was also held in Hyderabad to condemn the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Large numbers of people, including women and children dressed in black as a mark of mourning, participated in the rally in the Purani Haveli area and paid tribute to the 86-year-old Iranian leader. Protesters raised slogans against the United States and Israel during the demonstration. The rally was organised by Tanzeem-e-Jafferi, a Shia religious organisation.
Political Reactions
Iranian state media said Khamenei was killed in an airstrike targeting his compound in downtown Tehran along with members of his family, including his daughter, daughter-in-law, grandchild and son-in-law. Iran announced 40 days of public mourning, while the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps said it has launched attacks on US bases and Israeli military facilities in retaliation.
The conflict, however, also triggered a political debate in India, with opposition parties criticising the government’s response to the joint US-Israel airstrikes. The Congress strongly condemned what it described as the targeted assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei and extended condolences to his family, the people of Iran and the global Shia community. The party said it stood in solidarity with them during what it called a moment of profound grief.
Other opposition parties including the National Conference, the PDP and the Samajwadi Party also condemned the attack.
Iran has the world’s largest Shia population, accounting for nearly 90% of its citizens. In India, Shias form a significant section of the Muslim population and are concentrated in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir.
March 02, 2026, 13:19 IST
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