Lucknow: Thousands of Shias took to the street in the city on Sunday to express their anger while prominent Islamic clerics from the city reacted strongly to the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an alleged attack attributed to Israel and the US.Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad described Khamenei’s death as a major tragedy for the Islamic world. He stated that the Iranian leader was conducting routine meetings in his office when the attack occurred and rejected claims that he had been hiding in bunkers.“We want to tell the world that although Khamenei has departed from this world, his mission is alive, and we will carry forward his mission and continue to raise our voices against oppression and support the oppressed,” said Jawwad.He has announced three days of mourning and a condolence gathering at Chhota Imambara at 8 pm, followed by a candle march. He called on people of all religions to participate, and requested the closure of businesses.Maulana Yasoob Abbas, general secretary of All India Shia Personal Law Board, announced that effigies of US President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be burnt during the protest on Monday.The Shia community has declared a three-day mourning, during which people will wear black, hoist black flags at their homes and organise special prayers, Abbas added.Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, the chairman of the Islamic Centre of India and Shahi Imam of Lucknow, condemned the attack in strong terms. He stated that the action violated international law and described Iran as an independent and sovereign nation. He also alleged that civilian areas, including schools, were affected and expressed concern over the killing of innocent children.Referring to Khamenei’s death, Farangi Mahali called for international intervention to halt the conflict immediately, particularly noting the timing during the holy month of Ramadan. He urged global leaders to raise their voices against the attack and demanded that those responsible be brought before international courts. At the same time, he appealed to Muslims to maintain peace and communal harmony.Meanwhile, the All-India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) condemned the ongoing US-Israel military action on Iran, calling it a violation of international law. The organisation said the conflict caused devastation across the region, with women and children suffering the most. AIDWA described the attack on a primary school in Iran as “inhuman” and raised concern over the safety of civilians, including Indian workers in the region. The group urged the Indian govt to take a diplomatic stand and press for an immediate cessation of hostilities. AIDWA leaders expressed solidarity with the Iranian people.
