In a valiant effort not seen since the death of terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, The Washington Post outdid itself with an obituary for Iran’s deceased Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Post described the longtime Iranian Supreme Leader — who oversaw the murders of thousands of his own people — as “avuncular” in comparison to his “constantly scowling” predecessor, commenting on his “bushy beard and easy smile” and his predilection for Western literature.
“With his bushy white beard and easy smile, Ayatollah Khamenei cut a more avuncular figure in public than his perpetually scowling but much more revered mentor,” one paragraph read. “And he was known to be fond of Persian poetry and classic Western novels, especially Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Misérables.’”
“Some Iranians who knew Ayatollah Khamenei before he became supreme leader described him as a ‘closet moderate,’” it continued.
Critics slammed the paper almost immediately, mocking the conciliatory tone of an obituary for the man who kept his own country oppressed for decades. Khamenei was president of Iran from 1981 to 1989, when he became the regime’s Supreme Leader until his death on Saturday.
Actor James Woods shared a paragraph from the obituary, commenting, “This is how the Washington Post eulogized the dirt bag who murdered 40,000 innocent civilians this month. This is not satire.”
“This reads like a dating app profile,” The Heritage Foundation’s Mary Vought observed.
“To Washington Post: What is wrong with you?” another asked. “Why are you describing the mass murdering terrorist Khamenei like he was a harmless old grandpa?”
“Yes, the Washington Post actually eulogized Khamenei by admiring his ‘bushy white beard and easy smile.’ The man was a terrorist, not Santa Claus!”
“The Washington Post just published a loving eulogy for terrorist dictator Ali Khamenei—like he’s a sweet grandfather, not the butcher who slaughtered thousands of Iranians and 600+ Americans,” podcast host Alec Lace posted. “Shame on WaPo. Pure disgrace.”
“Nice of the Washington Post to let Khamenei write his own obituary,” Doug Powers added.
“Washington Post: man who had women beaten and shot for not wearing hijab was merely an ‘avuncular figure’ with a ‘bushy white beard’ who liked ‘classic Western novels’; a Persian Santa Claus rather than one of history’s most despicable creatures,” Ryan O’Connor posted.
The outlet faced similar backlash in 2019 when American military forces, on orders from President Donald Trump, eliminated terrorist leader al-Baghdadi. That obituary described the brutal terrorist and Islamist leader as an “austere religious scholar.”
.png)
.png)
