Protests erupted in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in coordinated US‑Israeli airstrikes targeting Tehran’s political heart, officials said.
Demonstrations were reported in Srinagar, Sonawari, and Bandipora, areas with large Shia populations, where hundreds of men and women marched peacefully carrying pictures of Khamenei and chanting anti-US and anti-Israel slogans.
“Shias are not scared of martyrdom. We are with Rehbar Khamenei and out on streets in solidarity with them,” a female protester in Baramulla told reporters, reflecting the community’s grief and anger over the killing.
The Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association also expressed sorrow, saying, “We mourn the martyrdom of the family members of Imam Khamenei. Our prayers are with the Leader and the people of Iran.”
#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: Shia Muslims in Ramban protest against the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has been killed in Israeli and US strikes pic.twitter.com/FcRZD4vVq7— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2026
Political leaders in the region condemned the strikes and voiced solidarity with Iran.
Former Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti wrote on microblogging site X, “Iran and its resilient people face yet another act of aggression by Israel. No missile or menace can extinguish its sovereignty or break its spirit. May Allah’s protection surround Iran, grant courage and patience to its people, and guide its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, with wisdom and strength.”
Today marks a deeply tragic & shameful point in history with Israel & USA boasting about the killing of Iran’s beloved leader Ayatollah Ali Khanenei. What’s more disgraceful & shocking is the explicit & implicit support given by Muslim countries who chose convenience & expedience… pic.twitter.com/WoIBWtDwNI — Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) March 1, 2026
Kashmir’s chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, described the attack as “a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region. Lack of international accountability for Israel’s aggression in the region, especially regarding Palestinians, has emboldened it to act with impunity.”
The protests come amid a rapidly escalating West Asia conflict.
Khamenei was killed hours after US President Donald Trump described him as “one of the most evil people in history.” Iranian state television confirmed the death of the cleric and several family members, and Iran announced 40 days of mourning. The Iranian National Security Council called the assassination “the launchpad for a great uprising against the tyrants.”
Following the strikes, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israeli and US bases in the region. Red alert sirens were reported across Israel’s Negev and Dead Sea regions, and explosions were heard in Tel Aviv as interceptor missiles targeted incoming Iranian projectiles. According to the IRGC, 27 American military sites were targeted.
The killings and subsequent retaliatory strikes have intensified global concern, with experts warning of a broader regional conflict that could destabilize West Asia further. Kashmiri Shias’ protests reflect both solidarity with Iran and alarm over the escalating violence affecting civilians in the region.
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