Why Praise for Iranian Leader Khamenei During Muharram?

Two similar incidents recently occurred in Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow and in several districts including Unnao, as well as in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, which have sparked a nationwide debate.

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During Muharram in India, the Shia community organizes processions, Tazia (replicas of Imam Hussain's mausoleum), and mourning rituals to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain. In this sacred month, religious sentiments among Muslims are heightened, especially among the Shia community, who pay deep respects to their spiritual leaders. Generally, politics is kept separate from religion during such occasions, but recently, posters and banners of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were seen during Muharram in several Indian states including Lucknow and Unnao. This has led to a controversy.

The question arises: at a time when relations between Israel and Iran are extremely tense and India is attempting to maintain balanced diplomacy with both nations, why does a section of society appear to be aligning with the government of one side? And that too during a time when Shia Muslims are mourning the martyrdom of Imam Hussain. It may be argued that Khamenei is a religious figure, but the truth is that he currently holds a highly political role as well.

Consequently, local administrations and police in several districts of Uttar Pradesh ordered the removal of these posters, as displaying pictures of foreign leaders in public spaces is against regulations. Many people believe that this could pose a threat to India's sovereignty and social harmony especially when, in the backdrop of the Iran-Israel conflict, it is being perceived as political support. In Unnao, police removed the posters to maintain peace, which led to discontent among some Shia groups. Religious leaders like Maulana Yasoob Abbas condemned the action as an attack on religious sentiments, while the administration maintained that the move was necessary to prevent communal tension.