On October 18-19, Georgian- (1,2) and Russian-language Facebook accounts (1,2,3,4) disseminated the claim that a black flag was raised on the grave of Imam Reza in the Khorasan province of Iran, which according to tradition is a declaration of war and revenge.
The claim that the black flag erected at the shrine of Imam Reza in Iran symbolizes a declaration of war and a call for revenge is false. In fact, the flag is a symbol of mourning and is hoisted on the dome of the shrine every year to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein. In this case, the raising of the flag is linked to the death of several hundred people as a result of the hospital explosion in the Gaza Strip.
The shrine of Imam Reza is a religious complex located in the city of Mashhad in the province of Khorasan. In addition to the mosque, it includes a library, museum, cemetery, university, and many other institutions, and it is one of the most important religious centers of Shia Islam.
A black flag appeared over the shrine on October 18, after it became known that several hundred people were killed in an explosion at al-Ahli Hospital in the Gaza Strip on October 17 (1,2).
The flag is a symbol of mourning and is traditionally raised every year at the beginning of the month of Muharram (the first month of the Islamic calendar) to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein.
Therefore, raising the flag is part of the mourning ritual and has nothing to do with declaring war or calling for revenge.
It is not yet known who is responsible for the October 17 explosion at Al-Ahli Hospital, which killed about 500 people. The Israeli government blames the organization “Islamic Jihad” operating in the Gaza Strip, whose representatives deny any connection with the incident.
According to available data, the war that started on October 7 has already cost the lives of 4,000 people on both sides.
About the Sources
Davit Tordia is a supporter of the “Georgian Dream” party and manages the pro-government page “Leader 41”. Tordia regularly publishes posts discrediting the opposition and the West, including false information. “Myth Detector” has debunked the disinformation spread by Davit Tordia many times in the past.
Facebook user Mate Sarkineteli often spreads false information with anti-Western and anti-opposition content.
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