Islamist social media accounts have launched a campaign against stand-up comedian Ankit Agnihotri over jokes about Indian Muslims raising slogans in support of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The campaign has seen users tag the Iranian Embassy in India and demand action against the comedian, while his Instagram page has reportedly been flooded with abuses, threats and calls for intervention by Iranian authorities, as reported in OpIndia.
The controversy comes after Indian Muslims, particularly Shia Muslims, took to the streets to mourn Khamenei following his killing in a joint Israel-US military operation. During the demonstrations, some protesters reportedly expressed their willingness to travel to Iran and fight Israel and American forces to avenge his death.
Now, following Agnihotri’s comedy routine about slogans on Khamenei being born in every household, several Islamist social media accounts have sought action against him, portraying his jokes as an attack on Indian Muslims and the late Iranian leader.
Iranian Embassy Tagged Over Comedian’s Jokes on Khamenei
During a stand-up comedy performance in early October 2026, Ankit Agnihotri made jokes about sections of Indian Muslims who had reportedly declared that another Khamenei would emerge from every household following the Iranian leader’s death. The slogans included “Har ghar se Khamenei niklega”.
Agnihotri’s routine mocked the declarations and the public demonstrations of grief and solidarity that followed Khamenei’s killing.
Following the performance, several Islamists shared the videos and tagged Iranian official handles to alert them.
‘Muslim IT Cell’ Handle, Shia Association Demand Action
The account Muslim IT Cell, which has frequently been promoting Islamist victimhood narratives, also tagged the Iranian Embassy in India and targeted Agnihotri.
It described him as a “poor or unemployed Hindutva bigot” from Lucknow and accused him of demeaning Indian Muslims, particularly Muslim women, while celebrating Khamenei’s killing.
The account wrote, “Meet Ankit Agnihotri, a poor or unemployed Hindutva bigot from Lucknow, Yogi Adityanath’s Uttar Pradesh. He used a comedy stage to demean Indian Muslims, especially muslim women, while celebrating the killing of Iran’s Khamenei by terrorist state Israel. If Muslims are targeted with slurs, their dignity mocked, and violence celebrated for applause, call it what it is: Not comedy. Just hate dressed up as a joke. And this is nothing but a cheap attempt to become famous by manufacturing controversy at the expense of Muslims or Iranian supreme leader.”
The All-India Jammu and Kashmir Shia Association also joined the criticism, condemning Agnihotri’s video and calling for police action.
The Association wrote, “Strongly condemn the video by Ankit Agnihotri using derogatory, objectionable remarks against G,rand Ayatoll,ah Sayyid Ali Khamenei. Such rhetoric risks communal harmony. Urging @lucknowpolice to take strict cognizance & initiate legal action.”
Another account, “The Muslim”, described Agnihotri as a “Hindutva activist” and accused him of insulting Indian Muslim men and women while celebrating Khamenei’s killing.
The account wrote, “There are puncture repair shops in every three lanes of Lucknow. He will name his shop? Khamnei E-Rickshaw – Honda City Puncture Walla Khamnei H@lala Center Ankit Agnihotri, a prominent Hindutva activist from Lucknow, made derogatory remarks against Indian Muslim men and women during his comedy show, celebrating the killing of Khamnei by Israel.”
Agnihotri’s Instagram page has reportedly been inundated with abusive comments, threats and demands that the Iranian consulate take action against him.
From Protests and Donations for Iran to Online Campaigns Against Indians
The campaign against Agnihotri comes amid demonstrations by Indian Muslims expressing solidarity with Iran and mourning Khamenei.
Following the Iranian leader’s killing in Israeli strikes, protests erupted in Lucknow, Jammu and Kashmir, Kargil and other parts of India. Some protesters reportedly expressed their willingness to travel to Iran and fight Israel and the United States in retaliation for Khamenei’s death. Donations were also reportedly made in support of Iran.
These demonstrations have drawn attention to the transnational religious and political loyalties expressed by Indian Muslims toward Iran and its leadership.
Such expressions of solidarity become more troubling when they are accompanied by attempts to mobilise pressure against fellow Indian citizens over perceived religious insults, including by appealing to foreign diplomatic missions.
Adani-Elbit Drone Factory in Hyderabad Was Also Targeted
In March 2026, Islamist social media accounts had targeted the India-Israel joint venture Adani-Elbit Advanced Systems India, which operates a drone manufacturing facility in Hyderabad.
Several Muslim social media influencers shared the location of the factory and published posts or videos accusing the facility of enabling Israeli military operations.
The posts claimed that the Hyderabad factory was helping Israel’s military campaigns, first in Gaza and subsequently in Iran, by supplying Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicles to Israel.
The campaign sought to portray India as an enabler of Israeli military action and encourage a boycott of the facility. Such messaging damaged India’s interests by encouraging hostility toward an Indian defence manufacturing operation because of its links to an Israeli partner.
Blasphemy Over Freedom Of Expression
Agnihotri’s controversy raises a larger question about freedom of expression and the limits of online activism. Disagreement with a comedian’s jokes is one thing; directing abuse at him, issuing threats, or seeking intervention from a foreign government is another. The campaign against Agnihotri follows a pattern in which social-media accounts invoke religious sentiment to mobilise pressure against individuals and institutions over their views on Iran and Israel. Criticism of comedy should remain open to debate, but attempts to intimidate performers or enlist foreign authorities against Indian citizens risk chilling legitimate expression.
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