The death of a head of state triggers established procedures in Swiss diplomacy – regardless of who the deceased person was.
July 9, 2026, 2:51 p.mJuly 9, 2026, 2:51 p.m
Benjamin Rosch / ch media
On February 28 of this year, US fighter jets bombed the “House of the Leader” in Tehran, the high-security wing where Ali Khamenei lived. Iran’s supreme revolutionary leader was killed. It was the start of the war between the USA and Iran after Khamenei bloodily suppressed nationwide protests in the winter.
National mourning for a dictator: On Thursday, the Swiss flag flew at half-mast over the West Federal Palace.Image: bro
In general, the supreme mullah’s record of sins is long: under Khamenei, the Muslim theocracy executed thousands of people, it persecuted religious and ethnic minorities, systematically discriminated against women and supported all militias that terrorize the state of Israel.
However, for Switzerland, crimes against humanity are not a reason to deviate from the protocol, or more precisely: from Article 9 of the instructions on the flagging of federal buildings. Just in time for Ali Khamenei’s funeral, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs lowered the Swiss flag at half-mast at the Federal Palace. The EDA confirmed this at the request of this newspaper.
Diplomatic dilemma
This is always the case when a sitting head of state with whose country Switzerland maintains diplomatic relations dies. A fact that cannot be disputed: Since 1980, Switzerland has even represented the consular interests of the USA within the framework of a protective power mandate. Although this has not been crowned with much success in the recent past and has triggered harsh criticism at home.
Khamenei is currently being mourned in Iran.Image: keystone
Dealing with dead despots has also repeatedly raised eyebrows. When Iranian President Ebraihim Raisi, also known as the “Butcher of Tehran,” crashed in a helicopter in 2024, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis condoled on Twitter – in contrast to Germany, for example. The Federal Council refrained from such expressions of condolence in the case of Ali Khamenei – a flag at half-mast over the West Federal Palace must be enough for the mullah. (schweiztoday.ch)