On what is believed to be the Iranian leader’s official Twitter page, Khamenei used the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on Sunday, to compare the shootings of unarmed black Americans to the suffering of Jesus Christ and the struggle of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) December 28, 2014
Reaching out to non-Muslims at Christmas time, the Grand Ayatollah has also made a connection between the oppression that African-Americans face in the U.S. to the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.
“If #Jesus were among us today he wouldn't spare a second to fight the arrogants&support the oppressed. #Ferguson #Gaza,” the tweet said.
“#Jesus endured sufferings to oppose tyrants who had put humans in hell in this world& the hereafter while he backed the oppressed. #Ferguson” he tweeted.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) December 29, 2014
Khamenei has been known to denounce U.S. domestic policies on Twitter in the past.
Following the death of Michael Brown, who was unarmed when he was shot by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri last August, Khamenei expressed outrage over what he called the “brutal treatment of black people,” accusing the U.S. of harboring an anti-human rights culture. He also expressed that Washington is dishonest with Americans.
He wrote: “Today like previous years, African-Americans are still under pressure, oppressed and subjected to discrimination. #Ferguson”
“At events in #Ferguson US is fighting w its ppl. #BlackLivesMatter,” he tweeted.
Khamenei’s Twitter account has never been verified. His office has neither confirmed nor denied that he is behind the tweets.
