ALBAWABA - A picture of an Indian schoolbook containing Ruhollah Khomeini has sparked wide anger in Iran with expectations that the relationship between the two countries may enter a complicated phase.
A schoolbook in India has added the founder of the Islamic Republic Ruhollah Khomeini to the "most evil people of the world" list, placing him in the first place.
Iran International, which was the first to report the Indian schoolbook story, said that Khomeini's listing of "most evil people of the world" has been widely criticized by India's Shia Muslim community as they see him as a religious leader and Islamic scholar.
The book specified why Ruhollah Khomeini was added to the list, the description reads: "He was a religious leader of Iran from 1979 to 1989." The description continues: "But During his reign, [Khomeini] did many evil deeds. He used to kill people who didn't believe in 'Allah'."
It maintained: "People had to face brutality even if they listened to music. He was the culprit behind the Iranian revolution (1979) and also the Iran-Iraq war, making him responsible for the deaths of millions of people."
Indian politician Mirza Riyaz Ul Hassan Effendi posted on X slamming the listing of Ruhollah Khomeini on the list. He wrote: "Protest Against Insulting revolutionary politician and founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini R.a) as among the 'most evil people of the world' in a Class 6 textbook which has hurted the religious sentiments of the Shia Muslims Across India."
Protests also erupted in Kashmir, India protesting the schoolbook triggering an apology from the writer of the book. Furthermore, the hashtag "#KhomeiniForAll" also has been trending on X to show support for the Iranian former leader and decry the information written in the book.
