Demonstrations across Uttar Pradesh to protest Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing

The Shia Muslim community took to the streets on Sunday in several parts of Uttar Pradesh to protest against the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei in air strikes by Israel and US and Israeli forces.

In Lucknow, thousands of Shias, including women, demonstrated near the historic Bara Imambara in the old city and chanted anti-Israel and anti-US slogans.

Carrying pictures of the Iranian supreme leader, placards and banners, the members of the community hailed Khamenei as a ‘martyr’.

‘’He will never die…he will remain in our hearts forever,’’ said a woman protester, who added that the killing of the Iranian supreme leader should be condemned in unequivocal terms by the international community.

Prominent Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad termed Khamenei’s killing an ‘irreparable loss’ for the Muslim community and humanity. He also declared a three-day mourning as a mark of respect for the supreme leader.

The cleric appealed to the people to keep their shops and business establishment closed and exhibit unity in this hour of grief.

‘’It is not the death of a leader but an attack on an ideology…we appeal to the shia community in the country to hoist black flags on their houses, imambaras and wear black clothes,’’ he said.

A condolence meeting would be held at the Chota Imambara in the evening on Sunday which would be addressed by Kalbe Jawwad.

Demonstrations were also reported from Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Sambhal and some other places.

Tight security arrangements have been made in the old city areas and a close watch was being kept on social media to check inflammatory messages. So far there was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere.