Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, addresses senior Iranian police officers in Tehran on April 26, 2015. (Photo: Khamenei.ir/Press.TV)
Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, has thrown his support behind the #BlackLivesMatter protests, slamming the U.S. president and police. Just hours after a night of violent protests in Baltimore, Maryland, Khamenei gave a speech to police commanders in Tehran and took the opportunity to slam the U.S. over the death of Freddie Gray and the alleged police brutality against black Americans.
“It’s ridiculous that even though US President is black, still such crimes agnst US blacks continue to occur,” wrote in one of a series of tweets citing Freddie Gray, Walter Scott and Michael Brown. posting on Twitter,
In his speech to police commanders, Khamenei said the behavior of U.S. police toward blacks represents “cruel might,” which is contrary to Islam. Islam, according to Khamenei, the leader of a country that beats and stones gays, as well as so-called promiscuous women, does not favor “power with cruelty.”
On false pretexts US police shoots ppl on streets. This is a type of power which doesn't ensure security but leads to insecurity. #MikeBrown
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) April 26, 2015
Acquittal of US cops who committed murder is among measures taken by statesmen who ignore humanity& religion. #BlackLivesMatter #WalterScott
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) April 26, 2015
It's ridiculous that even though US President is black, still such crimes agnst US blacks continue to occur. #BlackLivesMatter #FreddieGray
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) April 26, 2015
They celebrate a day for abolition of slavery but such crimes are committed against the blacks. #EricGarner #TrayvonMartin #BlackLivesMatter
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) April 26, 2015
Power with cruelty isn’t favored by #Islam. #Police should embody justice and mercy while being potent. pic.twitter.com/EAFn2ybpLm
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) April 26, 2015
Gray died April 19 after suffering a fatal spinal injury either before, during or after an arrest. While it remains unclear how he sustained his injury, six police officers have been suspended pending an investigation. As far as the case of Walter Scott, who was shot in the back while running and resisting arrest, the police officer has been charged with murder.
