Jaipur, March 3 – Khadim Haji Syed Salman Chishty, Chairman of the Chishty Foundation, on Tuesday urged the Indian government to implement proactive measures to protect Indian citizens in the Middle East.
He called for immediate preparedness for evacuation in light of the escalating crisis following reports of the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Chishty expressed deep concern, stating that this development is not only a political matter but also a significant spiritual provocation with global repercussions.
“Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was not merely a head of state. For millions within the global Shia Muslim community, he was a supreme religious authority, a Marja, and a spiritual guide whose influence extended far beyond the borders of Iran,” he stated.
Chishty compared Khamenei's position in Shia Islam to the Pope's global leadership role in the Roman Catholic Church, highlighting the significance of the loss.
He condemned the reported targeted attack on the 86-year-old leader at his official residence, describing it as a serious violation of international norms and humanitarian law.
He also noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced legal proceedings and arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, emphasizing that European states are bound by legal obligations under international conventions. “When leadership is already under international legal scrutiny, and this escalates into military confrontation that targets high-ranking religious and political leaders, the world must not remain silent,” he said.
In his statement, Chishty strongly denounced “any act of targeted assassination, disproportionate military aggression, and reckless escalation that threatens to engulf the region in wider war.”
He emphasized that no political leader represents an entire faith community, stating, “The Jewish faith, like Islam, Christianity, and any other faith, stands for justice, moral accountability, and the sanctity of life. Political actions must never be conflated with religious identity.”
Highlighting India’s longstanding ties with Iran through Sufi heritage, Persian scholarship, language, and cultural exchange, he said India’s role as a civilizational bridge carries moral weight at this critical time.
“From the blessed threshold of Khawaja Gharib Nawaz, the message is simple and urgent: violence cannot secure legitimacy, bombardment cannot create peace, assassination cannot bring stability, and history shows that unchecked militarism only increases grief,” he declared.
Chishty concluded with a prayer from Ajmer Sharif, stating, “Humanity cannot afford another prolonged war in the Middle East. May Allah protect the innocent, grant patience to the grieving, guide global leadership toward restraint, and prevent humanity from descending into wider catastrophe. From Ajmer Sharif, we pray for justice, wisdom, and universal peace.”