Obituary of Iranian Leader Sparks Controversy

This weekend, the Washington Post published an obituary for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Saturday. The piece described him as having “a bushy white beard and an easy-going smile,” though noted he often presented a more serious demeanor in public than his revered predecessor, Khomeini.

Khamenei was known for his interest in Persian poetry and Western literature, particularly enjoying works like Victor Hugo’s “Les Misérables.” Yet, similar to Khomeini, he remained steadfastly opposed to moderate political and social reforms in Iran, as well as efforts to improve relations with the United States. The article made mention of the leader’s passing after a coordinated military offensive by the U.S. and Israel, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” which led to the deaths of Khamenei and other leaders following an Israeli strike on Tehran.

The obituary faced significant backlash online. Critics highlighted how it implicated Khamenei in numerous murders while detailing his rise to power in Iran. Responses varied from outrage to ridicule; for instance, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) expressed his disapproval of the obituary on social media.

Jennifer Sey, founder of XX-XY Athletics, criticized the obituary, referring to it as an example of “peak TDS,” or Trump Derangement Syndrome. Actor James Woods also weighed in, questioning whether the portrayal of Khamenei was intended as satire.

This isn’t the first time the Washington Post has faced criticism for its wording regarding controversial figures. In 2019, the paper sparked outrage by referring to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as a “strict religious scholar” following his death.

The New York Times also characterized Khamenei as “incompetent” in its obituary. Military conflict is anticipated to last several days, with Israeli officials stating that Israeli forces aim to neutralize Iranian leadership, while U.S. efforts focus on military targets and missile bases perceived as threats.

President Donald Trump issued warnings on Sunday against potential Iranian retaliation, asserting that any severe attack from Iran would result in a response of unprecedented scale.

The Washington Post has yet to respond to queries seeking comments regarding the backlash surrounding its obituary.