Abdulhamid's Warning to Russia and Its 'Supporters'; Grandson of Zahedan Imam Arrested

News sources have reported that the grandson of Molavi Abdulhamid, the Sunni Imam of Zahedan, who has openly challenged the policies of the Islamic Republic in recent months, was violently arrested by security forces. The Twitter account 'Halosh', which follows news related to Baloch citizens, reported on Tuesday, July 6, the arrest of Abdulnasir Shahbakhsh, the grandson of Molavi Abdulhamid Ismailzahi, stating that security forces used violence during the arrest and transferred him to an unknown location. Concurrently with Abdulnasir Shahbakhsh's arrest, 'Halosh' reported that Hamid Mohammadi Nik (Barahui) and Osama Shahbakhsh, two cameramen and photographers from Maki Mosque in Zahedan, where weekly protests occur after Friday prayers, were also arrested. Molavi Abdulhamid, the Sunni Imam of Zahedan, recently warned 'Russia and its supporters' to 'fear the dissatisfaction of God and the sighs of His servants' and to 'stop their oppression of the innocent people' in Syria and Ukraine. Abdulhamid Ismailzahi, known as Molavi Abdulhamid, tweeted on Tuesday, July 6, without directly referencing the Islamic Republic, emphasizing that 'oppression and neglect of God' lead to 'destruction'. He regarded the 'recent events' in Russia as a 'warning' for the rulers of that country to 'end the bloodshed and destruction of cities in Ukraine and Syria, or they will face harsher consequences.' The ongoing protests in Zahedan have been taking place weekly since October 2022, following Friday prayers, and Molavi Abdulhamid's candid criticisms of the Islamic Republic have persisted. According to leaked documents from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Islamic Republic's policy towards Molavi Abdulhamid, based on the wishes of Ali Khamenei, was to 'discredit' him; however, in recent days, an individual disguised as a cleric was arrested by the security of Maki Mosque, who, according to confessions published from him, intended to 'assassinate' the Sunni Imam of Zahedan with poison on the orders of the IRGC. Morteza Nakhl Ahmadi, a journalist, told Voice of America that although the government has attempted to link Molavi Abdulhamid to 'Wahhabis' and 'Jaysh al-Adl' to suppress protests, the Sunni Imam of Zahedan emphasizes unity among all ethnicities and citizens of Iran. He stated that the Islamic Republic seeks to 'erase the issue' and suppress any critical voice, including that of Molavi Abdulhamid.