Religious groups in Tehran have launched an unusual campaign to raise $1.3 million to finance the ritual slaughter of ten thousand sheep as a religious offering for the health of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. This is linked to injuries he sustained during an attack by the US and Israel in February.
Reuters previously reported, citing three sources close to his circle, that Mojtaba suffered serious facial and leg injuries from a strike that also resulted in the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, and other family members. Sources added that the supreme leader's face was disfigured by an airstrike conducted by the US and Israel in central Tehran.
According to Iran International, the campaign was initiated by the group Heyat-e Gharar, which is active on the Iranian messenger platform Eitaa. The goal is the sacrifice of 10,000 sheep for Khamenei's health, with the cost of each animal set at 250 million Iranian rials (equivalent to approximately $132).
People are not required to cover the full cost of one sheep; they can donate a smaller amount. At the stated price, ten thousand sheep should cost 2.5 trillion rials, or about $1.32 million. Iran International also specified that the fundraising is being carried out through the accounts of the Hazrat Hajije Institute, based in the city of Kom.
Abdulkareem Abedini, a former representative of the Supreme Leader in Qazvin province and a former Friday prayer imam in Qazvin, called on Iranians to participate in this campaign. He addressed people in a video message urging them to donate funds for the sacrifice of 10,000 sheep for Khamenei's health and to counter what he called the 'Zionist-American enemy,' strongly urging people to 'hurry' to join.
However, this campaign has drawn sharp condemnation among Iranians. Critics point to the country's severe economic situation, high food prices, and new US economic sanctions against the Persian country. Many expressed outrage over the spending of large sums on a religious rite, as most of the Iranian population cannot afford mutton. One person wrote on X: 'They cannot sell oil, so they use other methods to raise money.' Another commentator stated: 'These people really live in the Stone Age.'