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Iran’s Supreme Leader Gets Wildly Popular Facebook Page

Dec. 18, 2012 6:50pm Erica Ritz

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei Gets Wildly Popular Popular Facebook Page

In this Monday, Oct. 15, 2012 photo, released by an official website of the Iranian supreme leader’s office, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks to a large group of Basij militia, not shown, during a tour of northeastern Iran. (Photo: AP)

(TheBlaze/AP) — A Facebook page purportedly created by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attracted more than 10,000 followers on Tuesday, although the site’s content and style raise a few questions about its authenticity.

Iranian authorities had no immediate comment on the site, which apparently went online last week but only recently gained prominence among social media watchers. Despite the possibility that it is a hoax, the page has generated at least 170 comments – laudatory and derogatory, and nearly all in Farsi – that highlight the deep political divisions in Iran and possibly opposition fervor from expatriate Iranians.

“You have a friend request from the Ayatollah,” FoxNews.com joked in its headline, relating a few of the comments.

“I hope one of your loved ones is killed at the hands of this brutal regime. Then you will be with us, cursing the regime,” one person wrote, though reports indicate that critical comments are being deleted.

(Photo: Facebook/Khamenei.ir)

One post compared Khamenei to a celebrated ruler of ancient Persia, Cyrus the Great, who significantly expanded the Persian empire 2,500 years ago.

Another wrote: “Mr. Khamenei, how are you visiting this page? With proxy?”

It was a reference to Iran’s habit of blocking of Facebook and many other Western social media sites, often condemning them as “Zionist” or “corrupt,” and the efforts to bypass the restrictions using proxy server links from outside Iran.

The U.K.’s Guardian notes that one point in favor of it possibly being real, though, is that it was linked to by Khamenei’s Twitter account, which is believed to be run by his office.

The U.S. State Department said Monday it will keep tabs on the page, but had no comment on whether it was genuine or not. Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland joked that Washington is curious how many “likes” the Khamenei page receives.

(Photo: Facebook/Khamenei.ir)

But a number of things about the page – including an informal photo of Khamenei riding in a car – suggest it was not sanctioned by Iran’s top leader.

The world wide web is not unknown territory for Iranian leaders, though.

Khamenei, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and others have official websites. Some senior Iranian clerics also issue religious opinions by email.

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Comments (30)

DMENTED
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 7:16am
If I didn’t hate assbook so badly, I’d join just to go on that page to slang him upside down.

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DMENTED
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 7:15am
Dear God, time. Throw the tinfoil hat away already. And the handle too.

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jessieH
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:40pm
One more reason to say to hell with facebook.

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tnman65
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:51pm
Why in the Hell does this twisted, evil NUT have a Facebook page? Also, for that matter, why does anyone from Iran have the ability to have a Facebook page? Would someone give me a logical explanation for this.

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Dkoonz
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:38pm
Ya know if you put him in a red coat and hat and just a little more weight…well just saying…ho ho ho

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barber2
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:26pm
That guy looks like Gandalf in a new hat.

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Advection
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:57pm
Website looks like it was designed by the orcs of Mordor!

Seriously, who chose the color?!

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TADTAD
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:39pm
I can’t wait to “friend” him so I can pester on a daily basis. I love badgering pedophiles.

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The-Monk
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:26pm
When I saw that second photo I thought it was Castro at first…..

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Diane TX
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:24pm
Well, I’ve checked out “The Onion” and the story is not there yet. However, I did find this story:

Obama Paranoid Government Coming For His Guns, dated 12/06/2012.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/obama-paranoid-government-coming-for-his-guns,30638/

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- Small World
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:45pm
  I can not believe the onion story. Obama is all about big gov. power and control .
  
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FISH_BONE
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:08pm
Its nice to see the Ayatollah has budgeted his online presence in order to squeeze some facebook time amongst his surfing for gay porn.

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- Fubared
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:20pm
  He won’t return the favor and work on my farm. Too many pigs prolly.
  
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- FISH_BONE
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:26pm
  His problem with Farmville is that he can’t ever have enough goats to keep him happy.
  
  Report this comment
- banjarmon
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:21pm
  I wonder if he nibbles on the male and female goat parts before he has his way with them???
  
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- CHROME_PLATED_HEART
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 6:32am
  Flowers and dinner at least.
  
  Report this comment
MICHAELinOHIO
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:05pm
Not exactly the POPEMOBILE is it?

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- Advection
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:00pm
  I bet it has thick steel plates underneath to deflect the IEDs out to the adoring rabble.
  
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:03pm
Guess what happens if you don’t LIKE him?
http://news.kuwaittimes.net/2012/03/29/death-penalty-stalks-mideast-amnesty-report-records-big-rise-in-executions-led-by-iran-saudi-arabia/

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- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:54pm
  RJJ. Just saw the shout-out you posted earlier regarding the CEOI (figured I’d catch you on a current story). Remember them well, to include being a regular in the COMMO rooms, carrying the old PRIC(PRC-77′s) with whip antennas, miles and miles of wire for field phones and as a shotgun in a Rat Rig (for the heater in Baumholder Germany, lol).
  
  Never been in a unit that lost one (CEOI), but WAS in a Company where a guy stole a block of C-4 and had Ft Devens, Mass closed down for a week while we doing a shoulder to shoulder Police Call with every other unit on Post at the training / demo ranges for 5 straight days. He finally copped to it giving some stupid reason… not having anything to do with wanting to use it to harm others. I think he was just ART -15′d, lol.
  
  Report this comment
- DEFCON4
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:49pm
  @RJJ, Good article, talk about “hang them high”, good grief…..
  @Time_2, Now, that’s pretty darn funny…lol..
  We had a guy, in boot (PI) who came back from the rifle range with
  a “extra” M-16 round. Mailed it back home, it discharged in a post office
  in Lexington, Ky. Never did see that guy again……..
  Merry Christmas, to you both!
  
  Report this comment
- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:05pm
  Hey DEFCON4. Lmao… the Drills weren’t doing their “no brass, no ammo job”… but I guess if a trainee / boot really wants to get something he will one way or the other.
  
  I have to admit… I ran a few “Gas” Chambers in my time as a Drill and years following and had some powdered CS just for when my trainees / boots pee’d me off. It was sprinkled on the ground where we were going to do some “grass drills” by your’s truly. Lot’s of snot nosed and teary-eyed Guerilla drillers, lol.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:12am
  TIME, DEFCON4, Merry Christmas as well. I well remember coming off the ranges in basic and checks for brass and ammo. What I remember so vividly for some strange reason, was the briefing we got before and after the live grenade range. After all of the practice grenades tossed and the reloading of them time after time, to include the collection of the pin and rings. We were allowed to keep the pins from the two live grenades we eventually threw. But, they were adamant about not mailing them.
  That CEOI that went missing was something else. I had to drive some 160 miles in Germany to the location of that outlying platoon to assist in the search. A couple of hours after my arrival it was found in a washing machine. Somebody had just misplaced it when they came out of the field, then dumped it in the washer when he found it in his gear later that day. We never did find who had it.
  Baumholder! Ran the pistol range for our BN one fall there for six weeks as each company rotated in. Having been stationed in Graf, Hohenfels, and Wildflecken on a previous tour I could take it. But, it sucked anyway. LOL. I think the three of us could put together quite the funny book.
  
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freeberty
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 6:58pm
Blaze,
Do we have to continue to use this straw-man as the 1 who will end our freedom, when we have so many in our own government at this particular time, that are actively trying to do the same?

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- azcowboy1
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:08pm
  Couldn’t say it better myself. We need to pin our corrupt to the wall.
  
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- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:40pm
  Those strawmen ended the freedoms of 52 Americans for 444 days.
  
  Jus’ bringing things into perspective. Our freedoms are increasing curtailed on a number of fronts in our own country that is true, but let’s not forget what the country of Iran did to our fellow Americans and nation without provocation. Unless of course you’re in the camp that believes America is an imperialist aggressor in the world (blame America firster).
  
  Report this comment
- freeberty
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:17pm
  Today, the democrats and republicans are colluding to redistribute our wealth
  Today, our government is attacking our 2nd amendment rights.
  Today, we have police chiefs and unions urging to disarm the public.
  Today, we have police fascism on the streets in Arkansas.
  Worried about some 3rd world caricature on facebook? Today, not so much
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:25pm
  TIME: Members of that ” blame America firster ” group you refereed : BIG time NYT readers ! Just read a current front page article about the unemployed young forced to live in homeless shelters / on the streets. Know what they Blame this on ? ( Get ready. It’s Obama II Time ) Blame CAPITALISM ! Now isn’t that a shocker ?? Remember the OWS , international anti-capitalist movement, hordes which Occupied DEMOCRAT controlled cities ?? Yes, It’s OBAMA II TIME : The Chicago radicals , like old Bill Ayers, just HATE capitalism. And with their terrible economic policies they are doing all that they can to destroy American capitalism . With the help, of course, with their Lap Dog Media and the young Trolls who write in to their Lefty propaganda mouthpiece, The New York Times. George Soros must be salivating and placing his big buck bets on ” America folds.”
  
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- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:33pm
  FREEBERTY. Yep, lotsa’ FREEBERTY people want to blow off 9/11 too as just a form of “blowback” (our fault) and ignore Islam around the world. At least that’s what the FREEBERTY isolationists want.
  
  Yes, you make valid points… but there is also a big dangerous world out there and we have to mult-task sometimes and pay attention to others who desire to take our FREEBERTIES away.
  
  Report this comment
- TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:39pm
  Aye BARBER2. Read you loud and clear. My friend FREEBERTY here is more likely a Ron Paul Newsletter reader tthan the NYT’s reader I suspect… lol.
  
  Report this comment

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