Kayhan Newspaper Calls for Action Against Molavi Abdulhamid Following Attack on Police Station in Rask

The Kayhan newspaper indirectly implicated Molavi Abdulhamid as one of the factors behind the attack on the police station in Rask, stating that "the era of tolerance in hopes of reform is over and action must be taken against Molavi Abdulhamid." The newspaper, managed by Hossein Shariatmadari, representative of Ali Khamenei, referred to the events of the past year in Sistan and Baluchestan, asserting that the attack on the police command post in the small town of Rask is "not separate from the [developments] of the past year in this region." Following the armed attack by the Jaish al-Adl group on a police station in Rask, the prosecutor of Sistan and Baluchestan stated that 12 police officers were killed and 7 others were injured, some critically. However, the group denied these figures, claiming that 50 were killed and wounded in the attack. On Friday, December 15, the "Halosh" website reported that worshippers at the Makki Mosque in Zahedan, at the request of Molavi Abdulhamid amid a heavy security atmosphere, held a silent march after Friday prayers. The Kayhan writer, in an article republished in Tuesday's issue, described the city of Rask over the past year as volatile due to the "actions of a father and son who held the position of Friday prayer leader" there. This refers to Molavi Mohammad Fathi Naqshbandi, the Friday prayer leader of the city who was arrested by the Islamic Republic's security forces last year, and his son, Molavi Abdulghafar Naqshbandi, who has consistently published critical positions. Kayhan claimed that the killing of 11 police officers last week in this city has a "broader process" and that Molavi Abdulhamid supported Molavi Mohammad Fathi Naqshbandi after his arrest, portraying him in public opinion as an "innocent person who has been wronged." The article described the critical positions and sermons of Molavi Abdulhamid as "producing doubt, blackening, hatred, anger, delegitimization, and providing misleading addresses" to "sicken" the "minds." The Kayhan writer considered the implications of the Sunni Friday prayer leader's positions as a suggestion of "weapons," stating that "after these [positions of Abdulhamid], various groups like Jaish al-Adl and the Naqshbandis or other Takfiris and separatists suggest weapons and develop the illusion of having popular backing and approval." The writer claimed that the events of the past year are connected to "external movements" and have "emerged from the protests of women, life, freedom" and have the support of American, European, and Israeli services. Ultimately, this newspaper affiliated with Ali Khamenei asserted that "tolerance with Molavi Abdulhamid must end and action must be taken against him by cutting off his communications." The "Protest Fridays" in Zahedan began after security forces killed dozens of worshippers in the city on Friday, October 1, 2022. This day became known as "Bloody Friday of Zahedan." From the beginning of the protests, Molavi Abdulhamid has taken critical positions against the regime, calling for reforms and a change in approach in the Islamic Republic. These positions have not been well-received by the responsible officials in the Islamic Republic, who have attempted in various ways to silence this Sunni cleric over the past year.