Khamenei’s Death Causes Deadly Celebratory Protests in Pakistan
Protests against the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran turned deadly in Pakistan and Iraq on Sunday. Iranian exiles in Europe and other regions took to the streets to celebrate the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
At least 23 people were killed in Pakistan, including 10 in the port city of Karachi, where security personnel at the U.S. consulate opened fire on demonstrators who breached the outer wall. 11 people died in the northern city of Skardu after protesters set a U.N. office on fire, and two were killed in the capital Islamabad. In Iraq, police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of pro-Iranian demonstrators outside Baghdad’s Green Zone, where the U.S. embassy is located.
In contrast, thousands of Iranian exiles gathered in Paris, waving flags of Iran’s pre-revolutionary monarchy and holding red roses and champagne bottles in celebration. Similar gatherings took place in Lisbon and other Western cities with large Iranian expatriate communities.
Violence and Security Response
Pakistan and Iraq, home to the world’s largest Shi’ite Muslim populations after Iran, saw the most violent unrest. In Karachi, protesters shouted «Death to America! Death to Israel!» at the consulate, while gunfire and tear gas filled surrounding streets. Security personnel pushed back the crowd after it breached the consulate’s outer security, and demonstrators also set a vehicle ablaze. 34 people were reported injured, and all casualties in Karachi were caused by gunfire. The provincial government of Sindh ordered an official inquiry.
In Skardu, protesters set fire to a U.N. building. Local officials confirmed that 11 people died, with further clashes reported outside the office. Demonstrators elsewhere in Pakistan carried black flags and shouted anti-U.S. and anti-Israel slogans, including in Lahore, where police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds gathered outside the U.S. consulate.
In Islamabad, roads to the Red Zone, home to diplomatic missions, were blocked. Police fired tear gas and live rounds at thousands attempting to march toward the diplomatic enclave, killing two and injuring nearly 10.
Peaceful Demonstrations and Global Reaction
Elsewhere in Nigeria, thousands of Shi’ite Muslims marched peacefully in Kano, waving Iranian flags and portraits of Khamenei.
In Western cities, Iranian exiles expressed relief and celebrated. In Paris, many held portraits of family members killed under Iran’s clerical regime and waved flags of Israel, the United States and France. In Lisbon, celebrations continued into the early hours, with participants chanting and singing.
The protests highlight deep divisions between populations in Iran and the diaspora, with grief and outrage in neighbouring countries clashing with jubilation abroad.
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