TEHRAN — Millions of Iranians observed Ashura on Tuesday in a convergence of Shia Islam’s most sacred mourning rituals and state-orchestrated narratives that cast fallen military and scientific leaders as modern-day martyrs in the lineage of Imam Hussein. The annual commemoration, which marks the 7th-century martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, was this year amplified by government-affiliated institutions framing recent assassinations—particularly those attributed to the U.S. and Israel—as part of a broader struggle against “global arrogance.”
State media broadcasts and public displays in Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, and Qom depicted portraits of Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Quds Force killed in a 2020 U.S. drone strike, alongside images of Imam Hussein. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, addressing mourners at the Imam Khomeini Hussainiya in Tehran, explicitly linked Soleimani and other slain figures to the Karbala narrative, describing them as “defenders of Islam and the oppressed” who “followed the path of Hussein.” His remarks were echoed by clerics and officials across the country, with the semi-official Mehr News Agency quoting the custodian of Mashhad’s Imam Reza shrine as vowing that the “blood of martyrs like Soleimani and nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh”—killed in a suspected 2020 Israeli operation—”would not be forgotten.”
The integration of contemporary figures into Ashura observances underscores the Iranian state’s long-standing strategy of intertwining religious symbolism with revolutionary ideology. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the clerical establishment has sought to frame its opposition to U.S. and Israeli policies as an extension of the moral struggle embodied by Imam Hussein’s martyrdom. This year’s ceremonies, however, unfolded against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions, including stalled nuclear negotiations, escalating proxy conflicts in the Middle East, and domestic economic pressures, lending the state’s messaging an added urgency.
What Happened
Ashura, the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram, commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE, where Imam Hussein and his followers were killed by the forces of the Umayyad caliph Yazid. For Shia Muslims, the event symbolizes resistance against tyranny and has traditionally been observed through processions, passion plays (ta’zieh), and public expressions of grief, including self-flagellation and recitations of elegies.
This year’s observances were marked by unprecedented state involvement in shaping the narrative. State television, including the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) network, aired footage of mourners carrying portraits of Soleimani and Fakhrizadeh in mosques and public squares, often juxtaposed with images of Imam Hussein. In Tehran, Khamenei’s sermon explicitly framed the assassinations of Iranian military and scientific figures as part of a “divine struggle” against “American and Zionist arrogance,” a term frequently used in official rhetoric to describe U.S. and Israeli policies.
In Mashhad, Ahmad Marvi, the custodian of the Imam Reza shrine—one of Shia Islam’s holiest sites—told crowds that the “sacrifice of martyrs like Soleimani and Fakhrizadeh” would “inspire future generations to resist oppression,” according to Mehr News Agency. Similar messaging was reported in Isfahan and Qom, where local clerics and officials delivered sermons emphasizing the continuity between the Karbala martyrs and contemporary figures killed in conflicts with foreign powers.
The state’s narrative was further reinforced through public displays, including banners and murals depicting Soleimani and Fakhrizadeh alongside Imam Hussein. In some cities, organizers distributed pamphlets drawing parallels between the “oppression” faced by Hussein and the “assassinations” of Iranian leaders by “foreign enemies.” Security forces were visibly present at major gatherings, particularly in restive regions such as Sistan and Baluchestan, where past Ashura ceremonies have been sites of protest or sectarian tension.
Why It Matters
The state’s co-option of Ashura is not merely symbolic; it serves multiple strategic objectives for Iran’s leadership. At a time of domestic discontent over economic hardship, inflation, and governance failures, the ceremonies provide a platform to reinforce revolutionary ideals and project unity. By framing figures like Soleimani and Fakhrizadeh as martyrs in the mold of Imam Hussein, the state seeks to rally public sentiment around a shared identity of resistance, particularly in the face of perceived external threats.
The timing of this year’s observances is particularly significant. Iran’s nuclear program remains a flashpoint in its relations with the West, with negotiations over a revived Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) stalled since 2022. Meanwhile, tensions with Israel have escalated following a series of tit-for-tat strikes, including a suspected Israeli airstrike on an Iranian military facility in April 2026. Against this backdrop, the state’s messaging during Ashura serves as a reminder of Iran’s self-proclaimed role as a defender of the “oppressed” against “imperialist” powers—a narrative that resonates with its core supporters but risks deepening polarization within Iranian society.
The ceremonies also come amid growing scrutiny of the state’s use of religious observances to enforce political conformity. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have previously accused Iranian authorities of deploying security forces to monitor Ashura gatherings, particularly in regions with histories of dissent, such as Sistan and Baluchestan and Kurdistan. While the vast majority of Iranians participate in Ashura voluntarily, the state’s heavy-handed involvement in shaping its public expression has drawn criticism from activists and opposition figures, who argue that the government is exploiting a sacred tradition for political ends.
Background and Context
The intertwining of religious and political narratives in Iran is not a recent phenomenon. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the clerical establishment has sought to align state ideology with Shia religious symbolism, framing the revolution as a continuation of the moral struggle embodied by Imam Hussein’s martyrdom. The concept of velayat-e faqih (guardianship of the Islamic jurist), which forms the basis of Iran’s political system, positions the Supreme Leader as both a religious and political authority, further blurring the lines between faith and governance.
Under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, figures like Hussein were invoked to legitimize the state’s opposition to “global arrogance”—a term encompassing the U.S., Israel, and their allies. This narrative was reinforced during the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), when the state elevated fallen soldiers as martyrs (shahid) in the tradition of Karbala, a practice that has continued in subsequent conflicts.
The assassination of Qasem Soleimani in January 2020 marked a turning point in the state’s use of martyrdom narratives. Soleimani, who led the IRGC’s Quds Force and oversaw Iran’s proxy operations across the Middle East, was widely revered among the regime’s supporters. His killing in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad was framed by Iranian officials as an act of “state terrorism,” and his funeral processions drew millions of mourners. Since then, Soleimani has been elevated to near-mythic status in official rhetoric, with his image frequently displayed alongside those of Imam Hussein and other revolutionary figures.
Similarly, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a nuclear scientist killed in a suspected Israeli operation in November 2020, has been posthumously lionized as a “martyr of science” and a symbol of Iran’s resistance to foreign pressure. His burial with full state honors and the subsequent elevation of his legacy in official discourse reflect the state’s efforts to frame its nuclear program as a matter of national and religious pride.
Competing Claims and Uncertainty
While the state’s narrative during Ashura is dominant, it is not uncontested. Critics, including human rights activists, opposition figures, and some religious scholars, argue that the government’s heavy-handed involvement in the ceremonies undermines the spiritual significance of the occasion. In past years, security forces have been accused of suppressing dissent during Ashura, particularly in regions with histories of ethnic or sectarian tension.
For example, in 2022, reports emerged of clashes between security forces and mourners in Sistan and Baluchestan, a predominantly Sunni region where tensions between the state and local communities have simmered for decades. Activists alleged that authorities had banned certain Ashura rituals, including public self-flagellation, in an effort to prevent gatherings that could turn into protests. The government denied these claims, insisting that its actions were aimed at maintaining public order.
The state’s portrayal of figures like Soleimani and Fakhrizadeh as martyrs is also not universally accepted. While both men are revered by the regime’s supporters, their legacies are viewed more critically by segments of the population that oppose the government’s regional policies or its domestic repression. Soleimani, in particular, remains a polarizing figure; while some Iranians see him as a national hero, others associate him with the IRGC’s role in suppressing dissent at home and supporting proxy groups abroad.
Moreover, the state’s framing of Ashura as a platform for geopolitical messaging risks alienating those who view the occasion as a purely spiritual observance. For many Iranians, Ashura is a time of personal reflection on themes of sacrifice, justice, and resistance to tyranny—values that transcend political affiliations. The government’s efforts to co-opt these themes for its own ends have sparked resentment among some religious conservatives, who argue that the state is diluting the sacredness of the occasion.
What to Watch Next
The state’s use of Ashura to reinforce its martyrdom narratives is likely to continue, particularly as regional tensions show no signs of abating. Several key developments could shape the trajectory of this trend in the coming months:
1. Nuclear Negotiations: If talks over Iran’s nuclear program remain stalled or collapse entirely, the state may escalate its rhetoric, framing the nuclear issue as a matter of religious duty and resistance to foreign pressure. Ashura and other religious observances could serve as platforms for this messaging.
2. Regional Proxy Conflicts: Iran’s support for groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and militias in Iraq and Syria remains a contentious issue. Any escalation in these conflicts—particularly if it results in the deaths of Iranian military personnel—could lead to further elevation of “martyrs” in official discourse.
3. Domestic Unrest: Economic hardship and public discontent over governance have led to sporadic protests in recent years. If unrest intensifies, the state may seek to use religious observances like Ashura to rally its base and suppress dissent, potentially leading to clashes with opposition groups.
4. Leadership Transition: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is 87, is widely believed to be in declining health. Any transition in leadership could prompt a recalibration of the state’s religious and political narratives, including its use of martyrdom symbolism.
5. International Scrutiny: The state’s framing of Ashura as a platform for geopolitical messaging is likely to draw continued criticism from human rights groups and Western governments. How Iran responds to this scrutiny—whether by doubling down on its narrative or seeking to moderate its rhetoric—will be closely watched.
Conclusion
Iran’s Ashura ceremonies this year highlighted the enduring power of religious symbolism in shaping the country’s political and social landscape. By intertwining the commemoration of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom with the veneration of contemporary figures like Qasem Soleimani and Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the state has sought to reinforce its revolutionary ideals and project unity in the face of external threats. However, the blending of religious and political messaging is not without risks. While the narrative may resonate with the regime’s core supporters, it risks alienating those who view Ashura as a purely spiritual occasion or who oppose the government’s regional and domestic policies.
As Iran navigates
Story synopsis gathered from: Al Jazeera News — source
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