Demonstrations were reported in Srinagar, Sonawari and Bandipora, where members of the Shia community gathered to protest the reported killing of Ali Khamenei.
Men and women took to the streets carrying photographs of the Iranian leader and raising slogans in solidarity with Iran. In Baramulla, a protester said the community stood firmly behind Khamenei and expressed support for what she described as resistance in the face of aggression.
The Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association issued a statement mourning the development and expressing prayers for Iran’s leadership and people.
Political leaders condemn Israeli strikes
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti condemned Israel’s strikes on Iran, describing them as an act of aggression. She said her prayers were with “Iran and its resilient people” and described the country as a significant voice in the Muslim world.
Mufti stated that Iran’s sovereignty and spirit could not be broken by military action and prayed for protection and guidance for Khamenei.
Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also denounced the attack, calling it a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region. He said the lack of international accountability had emboldened Israel and warned that such actions could have grave consequences for regional stability.
What do the protestors say?
Protesters raised anti-US and anti-Israel slogans, expressing solidarity with Iran and condemning the attack. A protestor told ANI, “Today, our beloved leader, Ali Khamenei, was brutally martyred…. Yes, this mourning procession is going on peacefully in the city centre.”
The protests were peaceful, with participants carrying pictures of Khamenei and banners supporting Iran. Black flags, portraits of the Ayatollah, and traditional mourning chants (Nauha) were witnessed on the streets of Srinagar.
Another protester told ANI, “We have received news from Iran that revolutionary Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is no more. He has been brutally killed by the US and Israel… We are all saddened by this incident…”For the Shia Muslim community in Srinagar, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was more than a foreign political leader; he was a Marja-e-Taqlid (a Source of Emulation).
Confirmation from Tehran, claims from Washington
Iran’s state television confirmed that Khamenei, 86, was killed in coordinated airstrikes. The announcement came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly declared the Iranian leader dead, describing him as “one of the most evil people in history.”
The strikes were reportedly carried out in coordination with Israeli forces under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, targeting central locations in Tehran in what observers described as a dramatic escalation of the conflict.
According to Israeli media reports, a photograph of Khamenei’s body was shown to both Trump and Netanyahu. Iran has announced 40 days of national mourning following the reported killing.
In a post on X, Press TV said, “Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei martyred in US-Israeli attacks on Iran”.
Earlier, the Times of Israel cited Iran’s state media reporting that Ali Khamenei’s daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law were killed in Israeli-US strikes. The Israeli newspaper said that there is no official word on the fate of Khamenei himself.
Meanwhile, various reports emanating from Iran suggest that crowds have come out on the streets to celebrate.
Celebrations in Iran
According to the news report, whistling and cheering and slogans of ‘Death to the Islamic Republic’ and ‘Long live the Shah’ were heard on the streets of the cities.
Fox News posted a video and reported that Iranians were celebrating the death of Khamenei on the streets of Besat Town, a suburb of Karaj, Iran. Former Spokesperson for the state of Israel Eylon A Levy posted another celebration video on X saying, “Iranian women are dancing in the streets–without hair coverings–after hearing that Israel killed the tyrant Khamenei. So many Western leaders should feel ashamed at their cowardly response this morning. We will all remember.”
Iranian activist and Journalist, Masih Alinejad posted another video with the message, “A video of Iranian people celebrating inside Iran, Am I dreaming? Hello, new world.”
In another self made Video Alinejad further said, “Every morning I wake up reading that my people are being killed by Ali Khamenei. But this is the first morning in my life that I get the good news and I want to run. I want to just run and shout, and shout out of joy.”
Reports coming out of London also showed videos of expatriate Iranians and Israelis dancing and celebrating side by side on the streets of London. Earlier, exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi urged Iranians to unite and support a “stable transition to a free and prosperous future” after the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, calling any attempt by the regime to appoint a successor “doomed to fail”.
Iranian response and regional fallout
Following the announcement, Iran’s National Security Council said the assassination would serve as the “launchpad for a great uprising against the tyrants,” signalling the possibility of further retaliation.
The developments come amid an expanding conflict between Iran and Israel, with missile exchanges and cross-border strikes raising fears of a broader regional war.
Iran has declared 40 days of national mourning following Khamenei’s death, with widespread grief and protests reported across the country.
Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have been monitoring the situation closely as protests unfolded. The demonstrations reflect the emotional and political resonance that developments in West Asia continue to hold in parts of the region.
