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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\u2019s deceased Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.<\/p>\n
The Post described the longtime Iranian Supreme Leader \u2014 who oversaw the murders of thousands of his own people \u2014 as \u201cavuncular\u201d in comparison to his \u201cconstantly scowling\u201d predecessor, commenting on his \u201cbushy beard and easy smile\u201d and his predilection for Western literature.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith 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,\u201d one paragraph read. \u201cAnd he was known to be fond of Persian poetry and classic Western novels, especially Victor Hugo\u2019s \u2018Les Mis\u00e9rables.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSome Iranians who knew Ayatollah Khamenei before he became supreme leader described him as a \u2018closet moderate,\u2019\u201d it continued.<\/p>\n
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 1981-1989, when he became the regime\u2019s Supreme Leader until his death on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Actor James Woods shared a paragraph from the obituary, commenting, \u201cThis is how the Washington Post eulogized the dirt bag who murdered 40,000 innocent civilians this month. This is not satire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis reads like a dating app profile,\u201d The Heritage Foundation\u2019s Mary Vought observed.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo Washington Post: What is wrong with you?\u201d another asked. \u201cWhy are you describing the mass murdering terrorist Khamenei like he was a harmless old grandpa?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, the Washington Post actually eulogized Khamenei by admiring his \u2018bushy white beard and easy smile.\u2019 The man was a terrorist, not Santa Claus!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Washington Post just published a loving eulogy for terrorist dictator Ali Khamenei\u2014like he\u2019s a sweet grandfather, not the butcher who slaughtered thousands of Iranians and 600+ Americans,\u201d podcast host Alec Lace posted. \u201cShame on WaPo. Pure disgrace.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNice of the Washington Post to let Khamenei write his own obituary,\u201d Doug Powers added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWashington Post: man who had women beaten and shot for not wearing hijab was merely an \u2018avuncular figure\u2019 with a \u2018bushy white beard\u2019 who liked \u2018classic Western novels\u2019; a Persian Santa Claus rather than one of history\u2019s most despicable creatures,\u201d Ryan O\u2019Connor posted.<\/p>\n
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 \u201caustere religious scholar.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n