Khamenei's jail diary 'Cell No. 14' sells fast at Kashmir book festival

By: Peerzada Ashiq

Overview

As a spin-off of the ongoing war between Iran and the U.S., the jail diary of slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is selling rapidly at the book festival in Srinagar.

High Demand at the Festival

Buyers are jostling at the stall set up by the Mutahhari Fikri Wa Saqafati Markaz at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the banks of Dal Lake, which sees a peak footfall of 20,000 visitors per day. Many local Shia clerics are recording videos of themselves purchasing these books for social media platforms.

The stall features stacks of books authored by:

• Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini – architect of the 1979 Iranian revolution
• Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – Iran’s Supreme Leader, killed in a joint attack by Israel and the U.S. on February 28, 2026

'Cell No. 14' – A Bestseller

“Khamenei’s jail diary, ‘Cell No. 14’, has evoked a huge response. We are selling dozens of copies every day. We had a buyer who took 60 copies of it from the Chenab Valley of J&K,” said a salesman at the stall.

The ongoing war between Iran and the U.S. has generated significant interest among Kashmiri readers in understanding Iran’s spiritual leadership, which has shaped the country over the past four decades.

Reader Reactions

Rashid Ahmad, a student of Kashmir University (KU):

“’Cell No. 14’ is the autobiography of Khamenei. It gives a peek into what revolutionaries in Iran suffered under the Shah regime. It provides a context to understand the Iranian government and its resolve.”

Faiz Khan, a Political Science student:

“Reading Iranian literature, especially the shapers of modern-day Iran, is essential to know how the country has married democracy and the clergy into one.”

The appeal of Iranian literature extends beyond Shia readers, with Sunni visitors also showing interest in the writings. Several local politicians and bureaucrats have also purchased the books, according to another salesman.

First-Time Participation by Shia Publishers

This is the first time Shia publishers have set up multiple stalls at the Chinar Book Festival, now in its third edition. The festival is organized by the National Book Trust (NBT) and runs from July 18 to July 26.

Dr. Amit Wanchoo, chief convener of the Chinar Book Festival:

“We had a very good response this year. Our peak footfall was more than 20,000 a day.”

Festival Details and Security Measures

The nine-day festival, inaugurated by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, featured over 200 publishers and book exhibitors displaying books in English, Urdu, Kashmiri, Hindi, and several other Indian languages.

However, the book fair remained under police scrutiny this year, following two pro-separatists being appointed to the school education department in J&K. Officials stated that all publishers were required to furnish a list of books and submit daily records to ensure no anti-India or pro-separatist material was displayed.

Related Coverage

• Escalation trap: On the U.S. and the war with Iran
• U.S. House of Representatives again passes resolution seeking to halt military action in Iran as some Republicans defect
• The last revolutionary of Iran