'He made the Ummah proud': Netizens honor Iran’s martyred Leader ahead of funeral

Netizens ranging from political activists and journalists to senior officials from countries across the globe have flooded social media with emotional commentary on the legacy of Ayatollah Khamenei on the eve of historic farewell and farewell ceremonies slated to be held for the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

The reactions emerged on Friday as the Iranian capital Tehran prepares to hold the ceremonies on July 4 and 5, with numerous foreign dignitaries in attendance among masses of heavy-hearted mourners, which are expected to reach up to 20 million in number.

"I hoped to meet him (the martyred Leader) someday. A life well lived until the final second… Utterly fearless of man... Defender of his people and the land… He has made the Ummah (the global Muslim Nation) proud and his loss is deeply felt," Shaun King, an American writer and activist, wrote on X.

'Immeasurable loss'

Former Russian president and the country's current Deputy Chair of Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev extended "deepest condolences" on behalf of the leadership and people of Russia. "We mourn this immeasurable loss alongside the Iranian people."

President of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani noted in a Persian-language post how he had paid respect as the martyred Leader's body lied in state. "His wise guidance and historic role in the developments of Iran and the region will remain etched in history."

Mehbooba Mufti, president of Indian-administered Kashmir's Peoples Democratic Party, considered it to be an "honor" to reach Tehran to express condolences and "solidarity" on the occasion, calling Ayatollah Khamenei "a revered leader who dared to stand against the tide & fought for the oppressed."

'Under martyred Leader, Iran stood by Palestinians, Lebanese'

Taghrid Al-Mawed, a Palestinian political activist and former British parliamentary candidate, conveyed her feelings, while noting that, under the martyred Leader, Iran "stood for the people of Palestine and Lebanon without any conditions attached, when some Sunni Muslim Arab leaders have not."

British journalist Bushra Sheikh cited Ayatollah Khamenei as famously asserting before martyrdom that he would not "swear allegiance to one like Yazid," the Umayyad tyrant, who martyred the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussain (AS). "As the funeral procession begins tomorrow," the quote "is being interpreted by many as a message of defiance. A declaration of resistance against oppressors," she wrote.

American independent journalist, Ethan Levins noted how "literally, the entire world is in Tehran" for the martyred Leader's funeral. "Countries from ALL continents and ALL religions uniting against American imperialism."

Mohamad Safa, the main representative to the United Nations of the Patriotic Vision Association (PVA), an international non-governmental humanitarian aid organization, minced no words to denounce the United States' and its allies' way of trying to whitewash the atrocities carried out against the Islamic Republic that included martyring Ayatollah Khamenei.

"Imagine if Iran bombed the White House in Washington and killed the US President and Tiffany, his 14-month-old granddaughter, what would you call it?" he asked. "The US bombed Tehran, killed its head of state and Zahra, his 14-month-old granddaughter. Why do you call it peace?"

American activist Nico House posted a video of a fervent funeral for the martyred Leader, writing, "I can’t believe they thought these people wanted to overthrow their own government…," a reference to the misconception held by the US, the Israeli regime, and their allies that the Iranian nation could turn against the country's Islamic establishment in the event of foreign aggression targeting the Islamic Republic.

A netizen identifying as PersianImmortal on X echoed the same sentiment. "They thought Iran would collapse, they were wrong. Tehran now hosts delegations from across the globe, even from countries that stood against it. Different regions, different beliefs—all paying tribute to the martyred leader, Ali Khamenei and his family."

Ayatollah Khamenei was martyred following the launch of the latest bout of unprovoked American-Israeli aggression against Iran on February 28.

The aggression that also claimed the lives of senior officials and countless ordinary civilians, triggered Iran to respond by staging at least 100 decisive and successful retaliatory strikes against sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets. The reprisal prompted the United States to announce a unilateral ceasefire on April 7.

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