FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

News

Iran’s Supreme Leader Weighs In on US Racial Tensions, Tweets #BlackLivesMatter

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also compares racial issues plaguing America to Palestinian battle in Gaza.
Photo via Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP

The global hashtag #BlackLivesMatter — which sprouted in the wake of police killings of black men across the US this summer — has now reached as far as Iran, where the country's Supreme Leader has reportedly adopted the phrase in a series of tweets ripping into the US over its current race and policing dilemma.

A tweet posted on Sunday to an English language Twitter account linked to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's top spiritual cleric, starkly compared Jesus standing up for the oppressed to the police oppression of black and minority communities in the US.

Advertisement

It's expected that followers of — Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir)December 28, 2014

The "black lives matter" slogan was among a number of activist expressions that gained traction after a Ferguson, Missouri grand jury's decision in November not to indict Darren Wilson, the white police officer who shot and killed unarmed black teenager Michael Brown.

Unconcerned abt the teachings of — Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir)December 24, 2014

The comments follow similar tweets made in the lead-up to Christmas, including one showing a picture of Jesus surrounded by a group of children that drew parallels between racial oppression in the US and the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.

A black,previously a slave, &his master were made brothers by — Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir)December 22, 2014

If — Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir)December 24, 2014

The leader had previously chimed in on the events in Ferguson in August as protests ignited across America after Brown's death. He later took aim at the infighting between authorities and citizens, which allegedly precipitated diminished participation in the recent Midterm elections, which saw the lowest voter turnout in 72 years.

Today like previous years, African-Americans are still under pressure, oppressed and subjected to discrimination. — Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir)August 17, 2014

US isn't honest w its nation. The recent US election turnout was so low. At events in — Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir)November 27, 2014

The Twitter account has not been confirmed as that of Ali Khamenei, although it is widely believed to be maintained by his office. It regularly spouts the official line of the Iranian government, denouncing its detractors, including the US and Israel, and comments on Iran's tensions with the West over its nuclear program.

The Zionists are just like the Nazis— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir)December 17, 2014

In the — Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir)November 25, 2014

Follow Liz Fields on Twitter: @lianzifields