Government Forces Attack Two Religious Schools in Zahedan; Dar al-Uloom Teachers: 'Violation of Sanctity'

On Tuesday, December 12, the Society of Teachers of Dar al-Uloom Zahedan issued a statement in response to the 'assault by security and military forces on two religious schools' in the city, deeming it a 'violation of sanctity' and 'against wisdom and unity.' The society also called for 'immediate action by national officials to prevent the escalation of tensions in Sistan and Baluchestan' to avoid further 'religious sensitivities and dissatisfaction.' According to the Sunni Online website, the official information platform for Sunni Muslims in Iran, government forces detained dozens of students during the attack on these two schools. The website 'Halosh' reported that on the morning of Monday, December 11, security and military forces raided the religious schools 'Mawlāwi Abdulaziz' and 'Abu Zar Ghafari' in Zahedan, which are branches of 'Dar al-Uloom Makki,' and violently arrested dozens of undocumented students. The website referred to the detainees as 'Baluch students' and noted that there is no precise information available about their identities and numbers. 'Halosh' added that over the past year, following the massacre of people during the Bloody Friday in Zahedan, the Islamic Republic has intensified 'threats, pressure, and widespread arrests of Baluch citizens and Sunni clerics under fabricated charges with forced confessions.' Security and judicial actions in Sistan and Baluchestan province have faced criticism from human rights organizations in the past year. The statement from the Society of Teachers of Dar al-Uloom Zahedan indicated that this action by government forces was carried out under the pretext of 'expelling foreign nationals,' and they 'violated all sacred boundaries and entered the school and mosque.' The society pointed out that 'a country that hosts 7 million Afghan migrants who are engaged in work and trade in all fields does not consider their activities in those areas a crime,' asking, 'Why is the presence of their children in religious seminaries for the preservation and learning of the Holy Quran and Islamic jurisprudence a crime?' The society stated that they have repeatedly discussed with relevant officials the mechanisms for the education of migrant students in religious schools, and each time cooperation has been promised, but no collaboration has occurred. The Society of Teachers of Dar al-Uloom Zahedan noted that this situation is completely different in Shia seminaries or the Society of Al-Mustafa for migrant students. Since October 1, 2022, when agents opened fire on worshippers in Zahedan, resulting in at least 100 deaths and hundreds of injuries, Zahedan has witnessed weekly protests following Friday prayers. So far, the efforts of the Islamic Republic to prevent the holding of protest Fridays in Zahedan have been unsuccessful, although sometimes to protect the lives of participants and at the request of Mawlāwi Abdulhamid, these protests are held in silence.