Ranchi: Members of the Sunni and Shia communities on Friday staged a protest at Gadhhossir in the Kanke area of Ranchi against the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Another group held a similar protest near Ratan Talkies on the city’s main road.Speaking at the programme, the state president of the Shia Personal Law Board, Maulana Sayeed Tehzib-ul-Hasan, said Khamenei was not only a leader for Muslims but also a figure respected by people across humanity. He alleged that the United States and Israel were responsible for his killing during the holy month of Ramzan.“Iran is currently fighting a war in self-defence. Innocent people are being killed in the attacks on the country. Steps should be taken to restore peace,” he said.The state president of the Samajwadi Party’s teachers’ wing, Sayyed Shahrukh Hasan Rizwi, said India and Iran have traditionally shared friendly relations and expressed solidarity with Iran during difficult times.Rizwi added that, just as the Pope holds spiritual significance for Christians, many Muslims feel a religious connection with Khamenei.Maulana Jainul Abidin of Noorani Mosque said it was unfortunate that Muslim-majority countries appeared divided over the war. “The US and Israel are taking advantage of this division,” he said.It may be noted that protests against Khamenei’s killing were also organised earlier on March 1, with Left parties demonstrating at Albert Ekka Chowk and members of the Muslim community gathering at Jafaria Mosque.
