A University College London student society has doubled down on its mourning of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, comparing his death to that of the Pope, despite extensive criticism.
UCL’s Ahlul-Bayt Islamic Society, which purports to explore the teachings of Islam as taught by the Prophet and his household, posted its “condolences on the martyrdom of our beloved Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei” on Sunday.
The society, and its Mental Health subsection, called Khamenei’s death an “unimaginable loss.” It also stated that “this is not the end to resistance” and encouraged Shia Muslims in the West to remain “aware and ready.”
Following criticism on social media and coverage by several UK newspapers, the society posted an infographic titled “On Grief and Religious Expression in University Spaces,” in which it defended the mourning of Khamenei as a legal practice.
“Ayatollah Khamenei was recognized by many Shia Muslims as a senior religious authority within Twelver Shia Islam. In Shia Islam, senior clerics are not symbolic figureheads; they are living sources of jurisprudence, ethical guidance, and spiritual continuity.”
The society wrote that grief “in this context” reflects the loss of a religious guide and spiritual reference point and is “rooted in faith, not in politics.”
It went on to describe Khamenei as “structurally comparable to the Pope” and assert that mourning Khamenei does not imply endorsement of everything he ever did, is about religious loss, and is thus “neither unusual nor suspicious.”
“Lawful religious expression, including mourning, remembrance, and collective reflection, is protected under UCL Policy and UK Law.
“Students are entitled to mourn [...] [and this] does not depend on external approval, nor does it dissolve under public pressure.”
Shia Islamic society cites UCL's code, academic freedom policy, claiming mourning Khamenei not illegal
It then outlined the legal framework of the UCL Freedom of Speech Code and Academic Freedom policy, as well as the Equality Act 2010, citing these as proof that mourning Khamenei did not contravene any laws.
The society said criticism “risks mischaracterizing faith-based expression” and that this “disproportionately affects Muslim students.”
“We ask for consistency: that Muslim religious expression be treated under the same legal and institutional standards as all other religious expression.”
“Religious identity is not militancy; spiritual awareness is not mobilization,” it added, despite having previously called on Shia Muslims to be “aware and ready.”
The Jerusalem Post reached out to the UCL Student Guild for comment.