“It (the Ayatollah’s death) is a loss for the Muslim ummah across the globe,” Taslim Ahmed Rehmani, president of the think tank Muslim Political Council of India, wrote in the Condolence Book.The air inside the Iranian Embassy on Barakhamba Road in New Delhi is still, and the silence is broken only by the soft scratching of pen on paper.On a long table draped in black cloth is a line of glass vases, with clusters of white roses in each. Beyond the long table is a screen of black cloth; in front, there is a line of chairs upholstered in black.On the screen are pictures of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, watching over the table and the open book placed on it. The book is for visitors to mourn the late Supreme Leader of Iran and Iranian Shi’ism.Among those who came to pay their respects on Thursday was Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri who signed the Condolence Book on behalf of the Government of India.Also Read | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assassination: How US's CIA, Israeli's Mossad planned and killed Iran's Supreme LeaderThere were many others, ordinary citizens, for whom the assassination of the Ayatollah marked the end of an era of resistance.“The martyrdom of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is extremely painful for humanity. The oppressors should know that if we were among those who could be erased, we would have perished in Karbala itself,” 22-year-old Katib Raza wrote in the book.The Battle of Karbala (680 CE), was a pivotal moment in the history and theology of Shi’ism, marked by the martyrdom of Hussain, son of Imam Ali, the fourth Rashidun caliph.Story continues below this ad“I wrote what I was feeling… I am deeply saddened,” Raza, a teacher from Sankhni village in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh, told The Indian Express.Also Read | Mourning, protests erupt in Delhi over killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei“It (the Ayatollah’s death) is a loss for the Muslim ummah across the globe,” Taslim Ahmed Rehmani, president of the think tank Muslim Political Council of India, wrote in the Condolence Book.“We have always been a part of anti-fascist movements in the country and across the world. We also feel a deep connection with the Iranian Revolution. I was in Class 12 when the revolution took place,” Rehmani (63), said.Rehmani, a former doctor who runs the think tank from his office in Jangpura, recalled India’s historically close cultural and social relations with Iran. “This (the Ayatollah’s assassination) is an insult to Iran. I condemn it,” he said.Story continues below this adMohammed Rizvi (29), who works with the travel booking company Sky Travel, which is affiliated with the Iranian Embassy, said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would continue to guide his followers.“A rahbar (leader) never truly dies. His vision and courage continue to guide us forever,” Rizvi wrote in the book.“He was our religious leader. He was very important to us… We will get guidance from him. A lot of people in our religion followed him. He had extensive knowledge of the Holy Quran… America used propaganda to defame him. He was a spiritual leader,” he said.Iran has declared 40 days of public mourning and seven days of public holiday as a mark of respect for its Supreme Leader. Nirbhay Thakur is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express who primarily covers district courts in Delhi and has reported on the trials of many high-profile cases since 2023. Professional Background Education: Nirbhay is an economics graduate from Delhi University. Beats: His reporting spans the trial courts, and he occasionally interviews ambassadors and has a keen interest in doing data stories. Specializations: He has a specific interest in data stories related to courts. Core Strength: Nirbhay is known for tracking long-running legal sagas and providing meticulous updates on high-profile criminal trials. Recent notable articles In 2025, he has written long form articles and two investigations. Along with breaking many court stories, he has also done various exclusive stories. 1) A long form on Surender Koli, accused in the Nithari serial killings of 2006. He was acquitted after spending 2 decades in jail. was a branded man. Deemed the “cannibal" who allegedly lured children to his employer’s house in Noida, murdered them, and “ate their flesh” – his actions cited were cited as evidence of human depravity at its worst. However, the SC acquitted him finding various lapses in the investigation. The Indian Express spoke to his lawyers and traced the 2 decades journey. 2) For decades, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has been at the forefront of the Government’s national rankings, placed at No. 2 over the past two years alone. It has also been the crucible of campus activism, its protests often spilling into national debates, its student leaders going on to become the faces and voices of political parties of all hues and thoughts. The Indian Express looked at all court cases spanning over two decades and did an investigation. 3) Investigation on the 700 Delhi riots cases. The Indian Express found that in 17 of 93 acquittals (which amounted to 85% of the decided cases) in Delhi riots cases, courts red-flag ‘fabricated’ evidence and pulled up the police. Signature Style Nirbhay’s writing is characterized by its procedural depth. He excels at summarizing 400-page chargesheets and complex court orders into digestible news for the general public. X (Twitter): @Nirbhaya99 ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Ayatollah Ali KhameneiNew Delhi