LUCKNOW, March 7 -- Shia clerics in Lucknow have urged people to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with simplicity following three days of mourning over the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and protests against Israel and the United States for attacking Iran. Special prayers were offered on Friday for Iran's safety. Heavy police deployment was made at Asafi Masjid in the Bara Imambara complex in view of the large turnout. DCP (west) Vishwajeet Srivastava said police force had been deployed considering sensitivity. A protest was staged inside mosque and nothing happened on the streets," he added. Appealing to people to keep Eid celebrations simple, clerics announced that a large protest against Israel and the United States would be held next Friday. They also questioned the government's silence on the issue, saying the country has historically advocated peace and justice and its stand should be clear. Lucknow's Shia Markazi Chand Committee president Maulana Saif Abbas asked people to wear black armbands while offering Eid prayers as a mark of protest. "As we all know, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was martyred in an attack on Tehran by the US and Israel. People from different religions across the world are condemning the act. I appeal to all Muslims to wear a black band on their arms while offering Eid namaz," he said. "Some political groups have not condemned the attack on Iran and the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei. I request you all to boycott their iftar parties," he added. htc...