On Saturday, an anti-Israel student group from Columbia University, known as Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), posted “Death to America” in Farsi, coinciding with U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran’s regime.
This social media post also came as a reaction to the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as reported by a news outlet on Sunday.
CUAD’s post stated “Margba Amrika.”
Later that night, the group tweeted again, mentioning that “X forced us to delete our ‘Marg Bar Amrika’ tweet in order to regain access to our account, but the sentiment still remains.”
As per reports, former President Donald Trump confirmed Khamenei’s death following a significant military operation that took place on Saturday.
The article noted that Trump has encouraged Iranians to take charge of their government, suggesting he had candidates in mind to replace Khamenei given the altered diplomatic landscape following Khamenei’s demise.
Though President Trump did not label the operation as a “war,” he emphasized that its aim was to mitigate threats directed at the U.S. and its allies.
Both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued that this military operation could set the stage for regime change in Iran by weakening its leadership.
In the meantime, many Iranians, both domestically and abroad, reportedly celebrated the outcome of what was termed Operation Epic Fury and the news of Khamenei’s death.
Operation Epic Fury occurred after widespread anti-regime protests erupted in December, driven largely by dire economic conditions and the government’s prioritization of funding terrorism overseas alongside rampant human rights abuses. The regime’s brutal response resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, with some estimates suggesting figures around 30,000 just a month post-protests. Consequently, Iranians, relieved from an Islamic extremist regime, openly applauded U.S. and Israeli military initiatives.
In light of CUAD’s remarks, Columbia University clarified that the group does not represent the institution. This statement garnered attention.
“There’s no evidence to suggest that those currently running the accounts are actual students, staff, or faculty members,” the university noted, emphasizing that the group is unlawfully using its name.
