‘World’s thugs’: In Indonesia, resentment about the Iran war is everywhere

March 6, 2026 — 7:30pm

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Jakarta: We’ve shambled over the collapsing footpaths of South Jakarta and turned up unannounced at the Islamic Cultural Centre, the spiritual centre of Indonesia’s minority Shia Muslim community.

Two figures greet us immediately in the courtyard.

One is a kindly older man offering dinner, as it is iftar, the nightly breaking of the fast for the Islamic month of Ramadan.

The other is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

US-Iran war live updates: US temporarily lifts sanctions on Russian oil; Three Australians on US submarine that sank Iranian ship, PM confirms; People ordered to evacuate southern Beirut

Reviled in the West as a ruthless killer of his own people and a facilitator of terrorism, Iran’s now-dead supreme leader smiles at worshippers, mourners and sweaty visitors from a giant banner stretched over one of the centre’s towering windows.

He is also in photo frames propped on a table, illuminated by candles.

Politicians and pundits in Australia tell Muslims it is inappropriate to publicly mourn........

© The Sydney Morning Herald