The Manassas mosque outside Washington, D.C. held a memorial for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and publicly praised him as “our leader” and a martyr, prompting concern over extremist sympathies, past endorsements of Hamas, and ties to far-left protest organizers; the mosque deleted some posts after pushback, but messages and images remain on other channels, raising questions about public safety and enforcement. This piece outlines the event, the mosque’s recent activity, past troubling statements, and why officials and neighbors should take notice.
An Iran-linked mosque in Manassas, Virginia, ran a Sunday evening commemoration for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, publicly calling him “our leader” and offering “glad tidings on the martyrdom of His Eminence.” The mosque removed an Instagram post after criticism, but related material remains on other platforms and in channels connected to the congregation. The commemoration was described as part of the mosque’s Ramadhan programming and included religious recitations, prayers, and a meal noted in messaging to the community.
Messages posted to the mosque’s Telegram channel repeated the image of Khamenei and outlined schedule changes that night, including a recitation, dua, prayer, and programming “honoring the life of Shaheed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.” The Telegram post also instructed community members who wished to contribute to send funds using Venmo to @manassasmosque and announced a speaker joining the event. That mix of religious observance and public veneration of a foreign theocratic leader set off alarm bells for many.
As Salaamu Alaykum Dear Community,
UPDATE FOR TONIGHT
Please note an update to our regular Ramadhan programming for tonight.
We will begin the recitation of our nightly Juz at 5:00 PM, followed by Dua Iftitah, Salat, Iftar, and special programming honoring the life of Shaheed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iftar has been sponsored this evening and will not be potluck.
Community members who wish to contribute toward this program may send donations via Venmo to @manassasmosque.
We are also pleased to welcome Br. Salahudeen Abdul Kareem, who will be joining us tonight.
A separate Telegram post posted the same image along with the traditional Arabic mourning phrase, “Inna Lillah Wa Inna Illayhi Rajioon.” That phrase, used in times of death and loss, emphasized the mosque’s framing of the event as a religious and communal mourning. The online removal of one post but retention of others across platforms shows how easily content can persist even after apparent retraction.
On Instagram the mosque was also listed as a sponsor of an anti-war demonstration planned outside the White House, sharing rhetoric that framed the conflict in stark terms and accused political leaders of lying and risking American lives. The post condemned potential U.S. military action and urged people to protest to “stop the war on Iran now.” Named co-sponsors included well-known leftist and anti-war groups, indicating the mosque’s reach into broader activist networks.
This conflict has the potential to quickly expand into a devastating regional war which will bring unthinkable death and destruction. Already, other countries in the region have been drawn into the war. Trump is lying when he says that Iran poses any kind of threat to the United States. And he has made it clear that he is willing to sacrifice the lives of U.S. servicemembers in this regime change war, along with an unlimited number of Iranians and others in the region.
But a mass anti-war movement can put an end to this destruction! Take to the streets on Monday, March 2 to demand: stop the war on Iran now!
Beyond recent posts, the mosque has a record of incendiary and extremist statements that should concern neighbors and authorities alike. In past statements and newsletters the mosque’s leadership expressed support for Palestinian militant groups and made conspiratorial claims about Israel and September 11. Such rhetoric is not just offensive; it signals an ideological alignment that contradicts public safety expectations for institutions operating in our communities.
Documentation from previous years includes explicit endorsements of violent actors and public statements accusing Israel of orchestrating global plots. Those declarations were delivered in gatherings and newsletters, and some were public enough to draw attention from watchdog groups. When a local religious institution repeatedly expresses support for groups tied to terrorism, we should expect law enforcement and civic leaders to take a close look.
The proximity of this mosque to Washington, D.C. amplifies the concern. A congregation that venerates a foreign theocratic leader while engaging with activist coalitions near the federal core should be examined for potential networks of influence and the risk that extremist ideology could inspire violence. Public praise for a foreign regime involved in hostile actions against allies raises obvious national security questions.
Whether the mosque is directly involved in planning violence is not established, but public praise for a foreign jihadist regime and a track record of extremist rhetoric merits scrutiny. Law enforcement and community leaders owe the public a transparent assessment of any credible threats and a determination about whether lawful boundaries have been crossed. Americans living near such institutions deserve clear answers about how officials will protect them.
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