The following report is now a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.
On September 8, 2022, and upon emerging news reports suggesting that the health condition of Queen Elizabeth II is deteriorating and that she is currently under medical supervision, Telegram channels affiliated with Iran-backed militias in Iraq shared several posts anticipating and announcing her death.
Sabereen News, which often promotes an anti-UK sentiment accusing British diplomats of meddling in Iraqi politics and collaborating with the Iraqi government against the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), mocked those who are concerned about the Queen's health.[1]
The channel posted a GIF showing Shi'ite women in a funeral reception beating their chests. The image was accompanied with the following caption in Arabic: "Today, the world is upsetting to see with my eyes." The caption is derived from an Iraqi chest-beating song recited to mourn departed loved ones. Earlier, the channel reported that initial reports suggest that the British Queen had died.
A second post by the channel included a screenshot of the UK government's official website, saying that the website has changed its color to black in preparation to announce the queen's death.
The post discussed what it described as Operation London Bridge, a plan to deal with the ramifications of the Queen's death.
"This is Sabereen, Britain: The royal website is covered in black for the purpose of announcing the death of the queen after hours. Will the world witness this event?! The fall of London Bridge – or (London Bridge is Down) – may seem ordinary words, but they are code words that refer to a plan since the 60s of the twentieth century, related to managing the consequences of the death of the British king or queen by ministers, key officials in the palace, and the media upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II."
On its turn, another Telegram channel shared a post celebrating: "The perishing of Britain's Queen Elizabeth."[2]
The full text of this post is available to subscribers.
Please login or register to request subscription information from MEMRI
