Why did Ayatollah Khamenei keep his hands covered under a veil?
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has long been the central figure in Iranian politics and religious leadership. He served as President of Iran from October 9, 1981, to August 16, 1989, before becoming Supreme Leader in 1989.
Someone in the garb of a journalist attempted to assassinate him on June 27, 1981, after returning from the front lines of the Iran-Iraq War. He went to pray in a mosque, where he was answering questions from the audience after the prayer. At the same time, a man placed a tape recorder with papers on the table, which exploded shortly after.
The attack severely damaged his right arm, vocal cords, and lungs. After several months of treatment, he recovered, but his right arm was permanently paralyzed. Later, he often kept his right arm covered in a shawl.
Despite his disability, he did not lose heart and learned to write with his left hand. He used to say that if the mind and tongue are working, a person can continue their mission. Due to this determination and political activities, he later joined the top leadership of Iran’s religious establishment and then reached the position of Supreme Leader.
Read also: How do we know about Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the guardian of Iranian revolution?
