Mawlawi Abdolhamid: The Islamic Republic Has Not Treated Sunnis Fairly and Equally

Mawlawi Abdolhamid, the Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, criticized the state involvement in religion during his Friday sermon on September 1, stating that such a practice is not considered appropriate anywhere in the world. He criticized the Islamic Republic's approach towards Sunnis, noting that despite demands for justice over the past 44 years, "unfortunately" there has been no justice and equality for Sunnis. This prominent Sunni cleric pointed out that the Islamic Republic has not had a Sunni minister and asserted that meritocracy does not exist in the Islamic Republic. According to Mawlawi Abdolhamid, Sunnis still do not have a mosque in the capital of Iran, and there is "pressure" in the prayer rooms of Sunnis in Tehran. He addressed the officials of the Islamic Republic, stating: "You should have given Sunnis freedom" and should not have made mosques and prayer rooms "security-oriented." Mawlawi Abdolhamid added that the government can oversee the religious affairs of Sunnis, but the management should be in the hands of the Sunnis themselves. He mentioned the demand for justice, equality, and fairness from all ethnicities and religions, stating that there is discrimination against Sunnis in employment. This prominent Sunni cleric stated that having ministers from among ethnic groups and women is beneficial for the country and promotes unity and solidarity, enhancing the country's dignity and reputation internationally. The Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan criticized the crackdown on opponents of mandatory hijab by the security forces of the Islamic Republic, emphasizing that it is not permissible for any male officer to "hold a woman's hand and hug her and throw her." The Tasnim news agency, close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic has arrested members of a "monarchist movement" group in Zahedan. This news agency, citing the Ministry of Intelligence, claimed that the detainees "were trying to align the crowd with the Pahlavi family by raising the lion and sun flag among the people, managed from outside the borders." This claim comes at a time when protesters in Zahedan have repeatedly chanted against the leader of the Islamic Republic and the government as a whole during the past months and on protest Fridays following Mawlawi Abdolhamid's Friday prayers. Protesters in Sistan and Baluchestan have chanted "Death to Khomeini and Khamenei" while demanding the release of political prisoners. Mawlawi Abdolhamid criticized the "spending on religion," urging the government to address the people's problems. The Friday prayer leader of Zahedan stated that the arrest of the Friday prayer leader of Rask will lead to increased dissatisfaction. Mawlawi Abdolhamid remarked that holding elections in the old ways is "useless" and that the country's problems cannot be solved by issuing death sentences. He emphasized that the government has not fulfilled any of the promises made to the Sunnis.