People protest against the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israel strike, in Srinagar on March 1, 2026. Photo: Shuaib MasoodiThe killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an Israel-US strike has sparked widespread protests in Kashmir.Thousands of people, especially from the Shia minority community, took to the streets to mourn the killing, bringing into focus Kashmir’s deep ties with Iran that have left a lasting impact on its culture, art and crafts, and religion.Indeed, Kashmir is also known as Iran-e-Sagheer (the little Iran), a term popularised by the poet Muhammad Iqbal.A 14th-century visitThe story of these Iran-Kashmir ties dates back to the 14th century when a Sunni Persian poet and missionary, Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, visited Kashmir along with hundreds of his associates.Hamadani, known as Shah-e-Hamadan (King of Hamadan) — a city in present-day Iran — and Ameer-e-Kabir (the great commander), is credited with bringing Islam to Kashmir. The missionary not only brought the message of Islam but also language, arts and crafts, architecture, agricultural practices and skilled artisans. He thus helped shape Kashmir’s religious, cultural and economic landscape.More in Explained | Where does Iran — and the world — go from Khamenei death? All you need to knowFor five centuries, Persian remained the official language of Jammu and Kashmir before being replaced by Urdu in 1889 during the Dogra rule.Story continues below this adKashmir’s exchanges with Iran have had a deep impact on its culture. While Kashmir embraced Iranian architecture, Iranian artisans brought with them famed arts and crafts including carpet-weaving, papier-mâché and khatamband (intricate woodwork used to design ceilings). Iranians also introduced dry fruits and saffron to Kashmir.In the 15th and 16th centuries, Shamsudin Araki — a Shia missionary from Isfahan in Iran — made frequent visits to Baltistan, Kargil and Kashmir, organising the existing Shia Muslims and converting a substantial population to the Shia school of thought.Though the cultural linkages between Kashmir and Iran were old, it was the Iranian Revolution of 1979 that brought Kashmiri Shias and a large section of Sunnis closer to Iran.One of the reasons was the purported Kashmiri origin of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and the assertion of inclusivity by Khomeini and his successor Khamenei.Story continues below this adIn fact, a year after the revolution, Khamenei visited Kashmir, addressed worshippers in Srinagar’s historic grand mosque and prayed behind Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq, thus sending a message of Shia-Sunni unity.The acceptance of Khomeini’s revolutionary ideas by the Sunni Jamat-e-Islami in Kashmir also helped to garner support for the revolutionary leadership of Iran in Kashmir.More in Explained | Ayatollah Khamenei dead: How India-Iran ties have fared since the 1979 Iranian RevolutionIn 1987, when Assembly elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir, the majority of the religious organisations, including the Shia outfits, joined hands under the umbrella of Muslim United Front (MUF) to fight the National Conference-Congress combine.Story continues below this adOne of the famous slogans of the MUF election rallies was “Iran say khabar aayi, Shia-Sunni bhai bhai (The message from Iran is that Shia and Sunni are brothers)”.The Aga family of the valley, which holds considerable influence over the Shias, also had close ties with Khomeini. Aga Syed Yosuf, the great-grandfather of Srinagar parliament member Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, studied at Najaf seminary with Khomeini.For the Shias in the Valley and Kargil in Ladakh, Khamenei was a Wali-e-Faqih or the Supreme Leader. The concept of Wali-e-Faqeeh was introduced from Shia theology by Khomeini, who asserted that in absence of the 12th Imam, the qualified Islamic jurist has authority of political leadership over the people. The Asna Ashria (or the twelver Shia) who comprise around 85% of the Shia population across the world, believe in 12 infallible Imams (leaders), the last of whom will come at the end of time.The Qom seminary in Iran, the second largest Shia scholarship centre after Najaf in Iraq, has also enabled regular contact between Iran and Kashmiri Shia Muslims. A large number of Kashmiri Shia scholars visit Qom for studies.Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More © The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Explained HistoryExpress Explained