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Indian Shia communities mourn the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, leading to protests in Kashmir and violent reactions in neighbouring Pakistan.
Bhopal, March 1, 2026 Amid rising tensions in West Asia, with Iran at the epicentre of regional conflict, many Indian Shia Muslims have publicly mourned the reported death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rather than stressing expressions of national solidarity with motherland India.According to reports Shia organisations and communities in places such as Lucknow and Kashmir held mourning processions, protests and gatherings to express sorrow and condemn the reported killing of Khamenei, reflecting deep emotional and religious responses to the news.Anti-Israel protests erupted in several parts of Kashmir on Sunday as Shia Muslims took to the streets to mourn the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israel strike in Iran.A large number of Shia protesters gathered in front of the historic Ghanta Ghar in Srinagar, holding pictures and posters of Khamenei, Iranian flags, and red, black, and yellow banners. Men and women alike chanted pro-Islamic as well as anti-US and anti-Israel slogans.Similar demonstrations were reported across Shia-majority areas in Srinagar, Budgam, and other parts of the Valley.Ayatollah Khamenei, who had visited Srinagar in the 1980s, was deeply revered by Shia Muslims in Kashmir. Iranian state media confirmed that he, along with his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren, were killed in the strike.
Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed deep concern over the unfolding developments in Iran and appealed to all communities to remain calm, maintain peace, and avoid actions that could provoke tension.“We must ensure that those mourning in Jammu and Kashmir are allowed to grieve peacefully. The police and administration should exercise utmost restraint and refrain from using force or restrictive measures,” the CM said.
The ripple effects were felt in neighbouring Pakistan, where violent protests broke out outside the U.S. Consulate in Karachi. Angry demonstrators stormed the consulate area and vandalised parts of the compound in a show of outrage after news of Khamenei’s killing. Clashes between protesters and security forces escalated on Sunday, leaving several people dead and many others injured as police used tear gas and other measures to disperse the mob.Pakistani police responded with tear gas and baton charges, injuring several people.Police in Karachi said the protesters were later dispersed and the situation was under control
The unrest broke out on Sunday morning, just hours after Iran’s state media confirmed that Khamenei was assassinated in coordinated US-Israeli airstrikes on Tehran the previous day (February 28). Khamenei, who became Iran’s highest authority in 1989 following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, had ruled the Islamic Republic for more than three decades.
A large number of Pakistanis gathered at the Consulate on Mai Kolachi Road in Karachi to protest against the incident. Footage shared on social media shows crowds of protesters directly attacking the consulate building, with individuals smashing windows amid chants condemning the US and Israel. The protesters were armed with sticks, and they use them to smash windows and other items in the consulate premises.The mob also tried to set fire to the consulate building and other properties in the area.According to claims on social media, US Marines stationed at the consulate in Karachi opened fire on the violent protestors. As per a post X, 9 protestors were killed, and 20 others were injured in the firing.Local police also moved in to restore order. According to the Edhi Rescue service, police resorted to water cannons, tear gas shelling and baton-charging, leaving several protesters injured. Ambulances transported the wounded to Civil Hospital Karachi for treatment.The US Consulate have been evacuated following the incident, and at present security forces are guarding the premises.