Unrest across Pakistan - UN office also attacked - 23 deaths now

Following a series of attacks launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, and the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, strong and contradictory reactions are being reported from countries around the world. In countries like Pakistan and Iraq, severe protests and violent acts have erupted against these attacks, while exiled Iranians living in other countries are seen celebrating Khamenei's death with cheers.

This situation has taken a more heated turn in Pakistan and Iraq, which are home to the world's largest Shia Muslim populations after Iran.

So far, at least 23 protesters have died in clashes in Pakistan. Ten people were killed when security forces opened fire on a crowd attempting to breach the outer wall of the US Consulate in the port city of Karachi. Sukhdev Azardas Hemnani, a provincial government spokesperson, stated that security forces at the consulate were forced to open fire to repel a crowd that had broken through the security cordon and advanced. Protesters, chanting anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans, set fire to a vehicle near the main gate and clashed with police, with authorities confirming that 34 people were injured in these incidents. According to Karachi Civil Hospital, all those killed and injured sustained gunshot wounds, and the Sindh provincial government has ordered an investigation into the matter.

In Skardu, a city in Pakistan's northern Gilgit-Baltistan province, where Shia Muslims are a majority, protesters also set fire to a United Nations office, killing 11 people. Meanwhile, in the capital Islamabad, police used tear gas and live ammunition against thousands attempting to enter the diplomatic enclave, resulting in two more deaths and approximately 10 injuries. Hundreds also gathered near the US Consulate in Lahore and behaved riotously, with Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urging protesters to remain peaceful.

In Baghdad, Iraq's capital, police had to use tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of pro-Iranian supporters gathered near the diplomatic zone surrounding the US Embassy. Concurrently, in Kano, Nigeria, a significant Shia Muslim minority engaged in a peaceful procession, waving pictures of Khamenei and Iranian flags.

A completely different picture is emerging from Western countries and other regions, where exiled Iranian communities are taking to the streets to celebrate Khamenei's death. In Paris, thousands of people are cheering with champagne bottles and red roses, waving photos of loved ones who died under decades of clerical rule, as well as flags symbolizing Iran's former monarchy, alongside Israeli, American, and French flags. A crowd gathered near the Iranian embassy in Lisbon, Portugal, also celebrated the event by singing and dancing until dawn, raising their voices for the right to choose the government they desire.