ISLAMABAD: Protests were reported across parts of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir over the weekend following reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in strikes attributed to the United States and Israel, Indian media said on Sunday.
Demonstrations were particularly visible in Shia-majority localities, where marchers raised slogans condemning Washington and Tel Aviv and expressed solidarity with Iran amid the escalating regional conflict.
Crowds gathered in Srinagar and other districts, with some protesters carrying portraits of Ayatollah Khamenei and banners denouncing the strikes. Officials were quoted as saying protests broke out in multiple locations, and the situation remained tense as security agencies monitored developments on the ground.
Political reactions from prominent Kashmiri leaders added to the intensity of the response. Former IIOJK chief minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti condemned the attacks and warned of a dangerous spiral of violence in West Asia. Separately, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Indian Occupied Kashmir’s chief cleric, also denounced the killing and broader military escalation, describing it as deeply troubling for the region and the wider Muslim world.
Mirwaiz appealed for a shutdown on Monday as a mark of protest and mourning, while urging people to remain peaceful.
The statements, circulated widely, underscored how rapidly events in the Middle East can reverberate in Kashmir, where Shia communities have long-standing religious and cultural affinities with Iran.
The protests came against the backdrop of heightened military exchanges in the region and fears of a broader war, with demonstrators voicing anger over civilian suffering and demanding an end to hostilities.
Observers said the developments could keep tensions elevated in the valley in the coming days, particularly if further reports emerge from Iran or if retaliatory action expands the conflict’s scope.
