In a strong show of unity and condemnation, the Shia Association of Jammu and Kashmir organized a large-scale rally in Srinagar, denouncing what it called “arrogant and irresponsible” coverage by Indian media outlets, including India TV and Zee News Hindi. The protestors demanded a formal apology and immediate punitive action from Indian authorities against the channels involved.
The protest comes in response to the broadcast of offensive and baseless reports that, according to demonstrators, were rooted in fabricated narratives and propaganda spread by enemies of Islam and the Islamic Republic. The demonstrators viewed the broadcasts as not only a direct affront to Ayatollah Khamenei, but also an attack on the dignity of the global Muslim community.
Prominent scholars, clerics, and members of the Jammu and Kashmir Shia Sharia Association were present at the rally, reflecting the high level of concern among the region’s Shia population over the insult directed at one of the most revered figures in the Muslim world.
Addressing the crowd, Hojjatoleslam Sheikh Mohammad Zakeri, a senior spokesman for the Shia Sharia Association, stated:
“Ayatollah Khamenei is not merely a religious leader; he is the intellectual, spiritual, and revolutionary guide of the Islamic Ummah. Any insult against such a figure is a direct insult to all Muslims and crosses a red line that cannot be tolerated.”
He emphasized that such behavior represents not only religious provocation, but a deliberate attempt to sow sectarian discord and destabilize communal harmony in the region.
Hojjatoleslam Syed Tayyeb Razavi also condemned the media’s conduct, saying:
“The duty of the media is to inform, not to inflame. These broadcasts lacked any credible basis and violated all journalistic norms. They were a calculated move to provoke religious sentiments and incite division.”
Razavi called on the Indian government and media regulatory bodies to take immediate and decisive legal action against the broadcasters and to prevent the recurrence of such inflammatory content.
In their final statement, the association’s leaders stressed that this demonstration was not an emotional reaction, but a firm and reasoned warning to all media organizations to exercise the utmost care and responsibility when addressing religious matters.
“If such provocations continue, they will be met with broader and more resolute public responses,” the statement warned.
The Shia Association of Jammu and Kashmir reaffirmed its commitment to the Indian Constitution and democratic principles but called on relevant authorities to uphold justice by holding violators accountable and safeguarding the religious sentiments of all communities.
