Is it true that the black flag raised on the Imam Mausoley in Iran is a symbol of call for war and revenge?

In mid-October 2023, against the backdrop of the explosion of the explosion at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza in social networks, the frames of the Mausoleum of the Imama Cut with a black flag on the dome began to spread. In the signatures to the photographs, it was explained that the raising of this flag is a call to war and revenge. We checked the reliability of such messages.

The information that on the Imam Mausoley in Iranian Mashhead raised a black flag as a call to war and revenge is actively spreading in many languages: Russian, English, French, Spanish And others. The overall coverage of such posts in X (formerly Twitter), by assessment Reuters - more than 20 million views. In Telegram, only in Russian such publications looked at the time of writing this analysis more than 10 million times. The raising of the black flag on the Mausoleum and its symbolic significance was reported, in particular, the channels "Live broadcast"(739,000 views at the time of writing this analysis), Shot (259,000), "Pozdnyakov 3.0"(258 000),"The same deer"(244,000),"Truthfulness"(218 000),"Observer"(211 000),"Uncle Glory"(207 000),"Rhymes and Panchi"(189 000) and"Putin in Telegram"(184 000).

Mausoleum Imama Cuts is an architectural complex In the city of Mashhead, including, in addition to the mausoleum itself, the tombs of other revered imams, the museum, the library, the cemetery and the mosque. Imam Reza (Ali al-Rida)-a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, the eighth imam of the Shiites-Dwynnets, prevailing among the Shiites of the direction. He lived at the end of the VIII - beginning of the 9th century on the territory of modern Iran. Although Imama is considered a martyr, the exact cause of his death is not established. As hypotheses, a sudden disease or poisoning with an unknown poison is called. His tomb is a popular pilgrimage place that every year Visits About 20 million believers.

Every year at the beginning of the month Muharram, on the 10th of which the night is celebrated Ashura, an important religious holiday for Muslims, on the mausoleum of Imam the Cuts lift the black flag as a symbol of mourning Imam Hussein. In the Iranian media, publications can be found about raising a black flag on the eve of Ashura in previous years:

• In 2023, on July 18, a red flag (means commemoration of martyrs) was replaced on black to commemorate the beginning of the month Muharram;
• In 2022, the ceremony was held on July 30, a fluttering black flag can be seen at 1:28 mark this video;
• In 2021, the night of Ashura fell on August 10, a similar (adjusted for coronavirus restrictions) the ceremony was captured by video.

There are similar publications for 2020, 2019 And Previous years. In all these messages, it is mentioned that the black flag symbolizes mourning and sorrow, and not the announcement of war and revenge.

As a symbol of sorrow, the flag was raised for special occasions even a month of Muharram, for example after The death of the US Air Force of the Iranian military leader Kasem Suleimani as a result of the Air Force. He He headed unit "Corps of Guardians of the Islamic Revolution", that showed Support Hamas and Hezbollah. In addition, c anniversary The deaths of figures important for Shiites (for example, Ali Prophet) are also replaced by the black, which was reported by the Mosque account in X (formerly Twitter).

Raising the black flag over the mosque in October 2023 also Commented Official representatives of the complex in social networks: 

“The mourning flag over the dome of the shrine of Imam Cuts. 

As an unprecedented gesture and on the orders of the guardian of Astana Kudsa, the black flag was raised over the illuminated and clean dome of the Mausoleum, and tomorrow the drum battle will not sound. This is a response to the barbaric crimes of the usurpation Zionist regime, especially to the bombardment of the al-Mamdani hospital (another name of the Al-Ahli Hospital.-Ed.) ”

It is about mourning meaning flag, not a call for revenge Wrote And Iranian Media in materials About the recent raising of the black flag over the mausoleum.

Project BBC Verify And a fact of a core unit AFP agencies Based on the available photo and video excesses from various sources, they tried to establish the circumstances of the Al-Ahli hospital in the area of ​​the hospital. Based on the analysis of the evidence collected, as well as the comments of the experts and analysts, our colleagues came to the conclusion that, most likely, a shell directed by Hamas’s militants towards Israel fell, but due to technical problems, which replaced the course shortly after launch. To a similar conclusion Came And the US intelligence, assessing the damage from the blow and the path of the rocket, which the flight of which was on several videos. Analysts emphasize that unequivocal conclusions can be drawn only by gaining access to the wreckage of the projectile.

Thus, there is no evidence, including the statements of representatives of the Imam Mausoleum itself or Iranian officials that the flag on the building has been raised in order to call for revenge. This is just a symbol of mourning, moreover, the black flag above the mosque does not rise by the first time. Usually it is installed every year a month of Muharram, as well as during the announcement of nationwide grief.

Image on the cover: Instagram*

*Russian authorities They think Meta Platforms Inc., which owns social networks Facebook and Instagram, an extremist organization, its activities in Russia are prohibited.

Not true

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