Iranian Shiite Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, 98, issued a fatwa calling on Muslims worldwide to assassinate President Donald Trump, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Wikipedia Commons By Tasnim News Agency, 2016.
The semi-official Iranian news outlet Mehr News Agency reported on its English language site on Sunday (excerpt):
Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi has issued a fatwa in which he declares anyone who threatens Leader, and Shia Marja to be the Enemy of God, who has to be fought against according to Islamic teachings.
After threats were made by the criminal American president and the leaders of the child-killing Zionist regime against the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and the senior Shiite clerics known as Marja, a group of believers submitted a request to His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi regarding the duties of Muslims in response to such threats. Grand Ayatollah Makarem response to the question put forward by his followers is as follows:
“Any person or regime that threatens the Leader or Marja (May God forbid) is considered an enemy of God,” Grand Ayatollah Makarem said in his Fatwa, which is a response to the question to him.
The senior Iranian Shia Marja added that “any cooperation or support for that enemy by Muslims or Islamic states is haram or forbidden. It is necessary for all Muslims around the world to make these enemies regret their words and mistakes.”
Definition of “Marja” via Wikipedia:
Marja’ (Arabic: مرجع, romanized: marjiʿ ; plural marājiʿ ; lit. ’source to follow’ or ‘religious reference’) is a title given to the highest level of Twelver Shia religious cleric, with the authority given by a hawzah (a seminary where Shi’a Muslim scholars are educated) to make legal decisions within the confines of Islamic law for followers and clerics below him in rank. The highest ranking marjiʿ is known as the marja al-mutlaq or marja al-taqlid al-mutlaq.[1][2][note 1] A marji’ is usually also[3] a grand ayatollah.
English translation posted by Mark Dubowitz:
In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
It is clear that threatening the leader of the Islamic world, as well as the esteemed sources of emulation, is a war against Islam. According to the Quranic verse “Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against God and His Messenger…”, this act carries a severe punishment.
Strengthening the front of Muslims and the unity of Islamic ranks is an obligation. I consider it haram (forbidden) to remain silent in the face of such threats.
It is necessary for Muslims around the world to strongly condemn these threats and to take appropriate and united action.
May God preserve the Islamic community from the evil of enemies under the protection of the Imam of the Age (may God hasten his reappearance), and reward the righteous defenders.
FATWA: Iran’s Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi — one of the most senior Shia clerics in Qom — has issued a ruling declaring that threats against Khamenei by President Trump and others amount to a “war against Islam.” Remaining silent is “haram,” he says, and Muslims must… pic.twitter.com/2jbgPjpW0l
— Mark Dubowitz (@mdubowitz) June 29, 2025
Iran analyst Khosro Isfahani warned that this fatwa is similar to the one against author Salman Rushdie that has provoked several attempts on his life, including a 2022 stabbing attack in Chautauqua, New York in that gravely wounded Rushdie and left himblind in one eye.
1- This is a Fatwa (religious edict) signed and sealed by a grand ayatollah responding to an Estefta (formal query) directly naming POTUS Trump.
2- In principle similar to murder Fatwa against Salman Rushdie.
3- Unlike the nonexistent Fatwa against nukes, this one is real.
1- This is a Fatwa (religious edict) signed and sealed by a grand ayatollah responding to an Estefta (formal query) directly naming POTUS Trump.
2- In principle similar to murder Fatwa against Salman Rushdie.
3- Unlike the nonexistent Fatwa against nukes, this one is real. https://t.co/2kkgBNJP0I
— Khosro K Isfahani (@KhosroIsfahani) June 29, 2025
