Democrat Ally Honors Iran's Khamenei As a Martyr
Mohammad Ali Elahi has close ties to Michigan Democrats and a penchant for extremism
A Dearborn Heights Imam, and close ally of Michigan Democrats, gave a eulogy for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Mohammad Ali Elahi said during a Ramadan service on Feb. 28 that the Iranian leader was a martyr and his death was an honor, according to the Middle East Media Research Institute, a nonprofit which translates Arabic media into other languages.
“I know that you love to end this life this way—to be remembered for ever and ever, that you were killed by the most wretched hands on earth,” Elahi said. “That is an honor, that is a pleasure to be in the Paradise of Allah.”
Elahi said Khamenei ended his life with “martyrdom” and that “nothing can be more than this. You can't expect more than this in the world.”
"May Allah have mercy on your soul, our beloved sayyid [Khamenei],” Elahi said according to MEMRI. “Our condolences to your family and to your nation, and to the Islamic nation—those who have understanding.”
Ali Khamenei became supreme ruler of Iran in 1989, and was known for killing thousands of his own people, human rights violations, and ongoing proxy wars with Israel, as well as the development of a nuclear weapons program.
Elahi was previously featured in a Georgetown Report on Extremism and has significant ties to military and government in Iran and Michigan Democrats, notably that he led prayer at Whitmer’s second inauguration in 2019.
Just one year later, in 2020, Elahi was questioned for his statements condemning the killing of Gen. Qasem Soleimani: “You may see Soleimani as a terrorist but now tens of millions of Iraqis and Iranians marching behind his coffin, are honoring him as a charismatic leader, and collectively condemning your action and they categorize it as act of terrorism. So, I can see a lot that you lost out of this killing and wonder if you accomplished anything!"
Soleimani was a key liaison between Islamic terror groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Popular Mobilization Unit (PMU) militias in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen, and the Assad regime in Syria.
It is clear Elahi has a long history of supporting the Iranian regime, so why are Michigan Democrats so cozy with him?
A previous Michigan Enjoyer investigation found Elahi received $13,400 in taxpayer funding through Governor Whitmer’s Newcomer Rental Subsidy Programs.
Elahi is a close ally of prominent Michigan Democrats, including Jocelyn Benson and Mike Duggan, both running for governor; Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, running for Secretary of State; Abdul El-Sayed, candidate for U.S. Senate; and Congresswomen Debbie Dingell and Rashida Tlaib.
As I previously reported, Elahi’s Islamic House of Wisdom is funded through the Alavi Foundation, an Iranian think tank responsible for funding pro-Iranian propaganda throughout the U.S. and targeted by authorities for potentially funneling money to Iran.
Elahi’s Facebook posts show a strong support of Hamas, Gaza, and Hezbollah and constant disdain for Israel, including at events with prominent Michigan Democrats. He was openly supporting Hezbollah as recently as September 2024, suggesting Israel’s victory will be “short-lived.”
Jocelyn Benson spoke at a press conference with Elahi in November, calling for “unity” after protests and counter protests in Dearborn. Will she stand by him now that he has praised Khamenei as a martyr? If she doesn’t distance herself now, what will it take?
