Hundreds of Western influencers and social media activists, many with a history of supporting Iran's government and denouncing the West, were invited to attend the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran. Among the approximately 400 foreign guests was British-Pakistani media personality Bushra Shaikh, a former contestant on the BBC's "The Apprentice," who shared videos of the multi-day event and expressed support for the Islamic Republic.
Shaikh, who has become a vocal supporter of the Iranian regime and has previously drawn scrutiny in the UK, posted on X, "Long live the Islamic Republic." Her attendance and public statements have led to her being reported to counter-terror police in the UK for potential breaches of the Terrorism Act and National Security Act. These acts prohibit inviting support for designated groups and require individuals acting under foreign direction for political influence to register with the government.
Another attendee, British media activist Sakina Dattoo, also shared videos from the funeral procession, describing it as a moment of "Heartbreak, anger and defiance." The event also featured American commentator Jackson Hinkle, who was filmed leading a chant of "Down with Zionists," "Down with Israel," and "Down with the USA" to a crowd of Iranian mourners. Hinkle, who has a history of producing pro-regime content from Iran, captioned one post, "Iran has never been more united."
According to Iran Wire, the Iranian regime has a pattern of utilizing foreign voices that align with its ideology to legitimize its political stances. Mohammad Mehdi Imanipour, head of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organisation, stated that around 400 foreign bloggers and influencers were brought in to cover the funeral, as reported by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency.
The funeral procession saw massive crowds in Tehran, with mourners calling for the death of the then-US President Donald Trump. Khamenei's flag-draped coffin, along with those of family members killed in an airstrike, was carried through the city. State television showed aerial footage of crowds stretching for miles, a turnout that appeared to surpass that for the 2020 funeral of General Qassem Soleimani. Officials urged the crowds to maintain order during the procession, which lasted about 12 hours before Khamenei's casket was flown to Qom for further ceremonies.