A Professor at Azad University of Zahedan Arrested on Charges of 'Insulting' Sunnis

Following the release of a video featuring the remarks of a professor from Azad University of Zahedan, and the ensuing protests over what has been termed his 'insult' to Sunnis, the prosecutor of Zahedan announced that he was arrested on the evening of Friday, May 25. In recent days, a video of Hamid Samsam, a literature professor at Azad University of Zahedan, was circulated in which he criticized the holding of one of the Sunni prayers and used a sexual insult, stating that instead of 'bending and straightening,' they should 'reduce their savagery a bit and think about hygiene.' He also mentioned that this semester he would present questions that all Sunni students would fail in his class. This university professor stated that these students 'represent the Mowlavis and are supposed to become Mowlavis; if I cannot reach the Mowlavis, I can reach these students.' The release of this video sparked significant reactions on social media, and a group of students from Zahedan University protested against these remarks on Saturday, May 26. Ali Mohammadi Rad, the prosecutor of Zahedan, stated in an interview with the 'Mizan' news agency that this university professor was arrested on Friday evening for 'publishing a clip with anti-unity content.' He also mentioned that the university's disciplinary committee had quickly convened, and the committee's ruling would be announced within 24 hours. Previously, officials in Zahedan had reported the arrest of 'extremist' individuals who had 'insulted' the beliefs of Sunnis. For instance, Mohammad Marziyeh, the prosecutor of Zahedan, had stated in October 2016, without naming anyone, that an 'extremist' eulogist had been arrested in this province, and another eulogist had been 'expelled' from this province. In 2014, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence announced that it had shut down the offices of several satellite networks in four provinces due to 'creating discord among followers of Islamic sects.' It is said that some of these television networks were linked to Ayatollah Sadegh Shirazi, a Shia cleric critical of the Iranian government. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic has previously stated that he opposes 'insulting the sanctities of Sunnis.' However, Sunni clerics have deemed many programs of state media and discussions on official platforms as 'insults to their sanctities' and 'elders.' Meanwhile, Mohammad Taqi Mesbah Yazdi, who has been repeatedly praised by the Supreme Leader, referred to Sunni Muslims as adherents of a 'false religion' in late 2013, stating, 'Shia books should be promoted among Sunnis so that those with less prejudice can more quickly reach the true religion.' Shortly thereafter, in April 2014, Hamid Reza Pashang, the secretary of the Sunni representatives in the ninth parliament, called for insults to the sanctities and scholars of Sunnis to be considered 'red lines of the regime.' On the same Saturday, the head of the judiciary in Sistan and Baluchestan announced that a case had been filed against Hassan Shamshadi, a reporter for state television, for 'publishing false news about the consumption of cat meat in the villages of Zabol due to poverty.' Ebrahim Hamidi announced that this case had been opened in the Zahedan prosecutor's office. Hassan Shamshadi had posted a picture on his Instagram page stating that residents of the villages of 'Gomshad,' 'Kandokeh,' 'Maladadi,' 'Roudini,' 'Hirmand,' 'Gharghari,' and 'Jahanabad' in Zabol 'break their fast with cat and dead crow meat due to poverty and destitution.' However, government officials denied this report, deeming it an 'insult' to the people of this region. Several media activists also denied this report while discussing the poverty and poor living conditions in some areas of Sistan and Baluchestan. Mr. Shamshadi, in another post, without denying his previous report, stated that he had 'good intentions' in raising this issue. He also apologized to the people of Zabol and Sistan and Baluchestan. Numerous reports have previously been published regarding poverty and poor living conditions in Sistan and Baluchestan, with Hossein Ali Shahriari, the representative of Zahedan, stating that 'about 80 percent' of the people in this province live below the poverty line.