Srinagar | Friday, January 16, 2026: Several areas of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed peaceful demonstrations on Friday as groups of protesters gathered after congregational prayers to express solidarity with Iran and criticise the United States and Israel, officials said.
The protests were reported mainly from Shia-dominated localities in Srinagar, Pulwama and Budgam districts. Participants carried placards and banners while raising slogans in support of Iran’s leadership and condemning what they described as external pressure and interference in the country’s internal affairs.
In Srinagar, small rallies were taken out near Nehru Park in the Hassanabad area and in parts of the old city, where demonstrators voiced support for Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei. Similar scenes were witnessed at the main chowk in central Kashmir’s Budgam district and in the Gangoo area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Officials said the demonstrations remained peaceful and no untoward incidents were reported. Security arrangements were in place as a precaution, but there was no need for intervention as the gatherings dispersed voluntarily.
The protests came amid heightened tensions in Iran following nationwide unrest and reports by activists alleging a deadly crackdown by Iranian authorities. Demonstrators in Kashmir accused the US and Israel, along with their allies, of being responsible for instability in the region and of committing atrocities against Muslims in different parts of the world.
Speaking to reporters in Pulwama, a Shia religious leader alleged that foreign intelligence agencies were involved in violence inside Iran and said the protests were meant to convey solidarity with the Iranian people and leadership. He added that Muslims across the world stood united against what he termed aggression by the US and Israel.
Authorities said they are monitoring the situation but stressed that the protests held so far were peaceful expressions of opinion.
