Iran raised a black flag at the Razavi shrine in Mashhad. Some social media users mistakenly claimed that the raised flag was a call for war, but this was not the case as it was a symbol of mourning. A black flag is raised over the shrine of Imam Reza at the Mashhad religious complex in Iran’s Khorasan province on October 18, 2023.
The black flag is not a call to war but a symbol of mourning in Shia Islam. The plane was flown as a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people after Hamas issued a controversial statement that an Israeli airstrike hit a hospital and killed 500 people.
The Shrine of Imam Reza is a famous religious complex of great significance to the Twelve Shia Muslims and a central point of religious pilgrimage.
The complex also includes the Ghoshad Mosque, a museum, a library, four seminaries, a cemetery, Razavi University of Islamic Sciences, a pilgrims’ restaurant and a huge prayer hall. A green flag usually flies over the shrine of Imam Reza.
People are talking about raising black flags on Twitter/X. While some were confused and thought it was a call to war, others recognized that this was a historic moment. One person wrote on Twitter: “For the first time in history, the Imam Reza Mosque in Iran will be covered with a black flag. Important!”
Another netizen said: “Iran’s raising of the black flag is not a call for war. This flag is a symbol of mourning.” He commented: “The black flag was raised at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad. Mourning the martyrs and condemning the Israeli massacre at Mamadani Hospital in Gaza.”
The netizen wrote on Twitter: “The black flag symbolizes mourning and calls on all Muslims to unite in this time of mourning and pain.” Another netizen commented: “For the first time in history, the Imam in Iran A black flag was erected next to the Raza’ah shrine. The flag was raised. The flag of mourning and mourning is for the #Palestinian people.” “A black flag of mourning is hoisted above the Iman Reza Mosque,” the statement said.
