Kargil, Mar 6: Thousands of people from across Kargil district gathered for Friday congregational prayers followed by a large protest rally condemning the killing of Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei.
They also expressed anger over what protestors termed aggression against Iran and suppression of peaceful protesters in different parts of the world.
The protest was organised by the Jamiat Ul Ulama Isna Ashriya Kargil Ladakh (JUIAK) and witnessed participation from people belonging to various villages and localities of the district. Due to the massive turnout, organisers had to extend the prayer arrangements to accommodate the large gathering.
Soon after the Friday prayers, the crowd marched through the Main Bazaar raising slogans against what they described as U.S. and Israeli aggression and demanding justice for protesters killed in several regions. The rally culminated at Isna Ashriya Chowk where several religious and social leaders addressed the gathering.
Markazi Imam-e-Jumma Sheikh Ghulam Ali Muffedi, who led the rally, urged people to remain united and raise their voices against injustice and oppression. He emphasised the importance of peaceful protest and solidarity with oppressed communities across the world.
Addressing the gathering, scholar Syed Mehdi Tambis criticised the international response to the developments, stating that people in India were able to peacefully protest while incidents of violence against demonstrators were reported in some other countries.
“Peaceful expression of grief and protest is a basic human right,” he said, adding that the killing of demonstrators in certain places was deeply concerning.
Social activist Sajjad Kargil said the protest was also meant to highlight what he described as suppression of mourning gatherings and demonstrations in regions such as Gilgit-Baltistan, Karachi, Iraq and Bahrain.
“We stand in solidarity with the people of Iran and with all those who have faced violence while expressing their grief and anger,” he said.
President of JUIAK Sheikh Nazir Mehdi Mohammadi while speaking to reporters termed the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei a grave injustice and said that the leader’s ideology would continue to inspire people.
He also appealed to international human rights organisations to take note of alleged violence against peaceful protesters in different parts of the world.
The programme concluded with collective prayers led by Markazi Imam Sheikh Ghulam Ali Muffedi, who prayed for peace, justice and unity among Muslims.
The rally ended peacefully amid tight volunteer management, reflecting the orderly conduct and unity of the participants.
