Kargil witnessed large pro-Iran rallies Wednesday, while Shia clerics in Uttar Pradesh (UP) urged the Indian government to support Tehran amidst ongoing unrest and economic hardship in Iran.
In Kargil, a Shia-majority district in Ladakh bordering Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, thousands gathered in multiple locations to demonstrate their support for Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and to voice their opposition to the United States and Israel. The rallies were organized by the Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust (IKMT). Sheikh Sadiq Rajai, chairman of IKMT, led the rally and accused Washington and Tel Aviv of seeking to dominate the region and destabilize Iran. He called for unity among Islamic nations against what he described as the "evil designs" of the U.S.
Demonstrators carried portraits of Ayatollah Khamenei and Ruhollah Khomeini, praising them with banners and slogans in Persian and Urdu. They also chanted slogans such as "down with America" and "down with Israel". Participants waved both Indian and Iranian flags. Symbolic coffins bearing the names of former US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were paraded, expressing anger over perceived US and Israeli interference in Iran's affairs. Several women also addressed the gatherings.
Asgar Ali Karbali, a community activist in Ladakh, emphasized Iran's historical support for oppressed communities, from Lebanon to Palestine. He stated that the protest aimed to demonstrate that "Iran is not alone". Authorities deployed police and paramilitary forces, but officials reported that the protests remained peaceful and continued in some blocks on Thursday.
Simultaneously, in Uttar Pradesh, Shia clerics and community leaders voiced their support for Tehran and cautioned against escalating tensions. Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, a prominent cleric in Lucknow, argued that Western sanctions have crippled Iran's economy and fueled unrest. He claimed that the sanctions, imposed due to allegations of uranium enrichment for nuclear weapons, were actually aimed at seizing Iran's oil resources. Jawwad urged New Delhi to support Tehran rather than remain neutral, advocating for the removal of sanctions to allow Iran to prosper. Maulana Yasoob Abbas of All India Shia Personal Law Board also echoed similar sentiments.
These demonstrations of support arrive during a period of increasing unrest within Iran, triggered by economic hardship and political issues. The Iranian government has faced growing challenges to its authority, with widespread protests against high inflation, job losses, and rising costs of essential goods. The government's crackdown on these protests has been met with condemnation and reports of violence. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the Iranian clergy is not monolithic, with differing views on political reform, social freedoms, and the future of the country. Some clerics even denounce the Islamic Republic.
