Mawlawi Abdulhamid: The Awakening of the Iranian Nation is the Beginning of Victory; Mahsa's Death was Painful for All People

Mawlawi Abdulhamid, the Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, described the "awakening of the Iranian nation" as the "beginning of victory" during his Friday sermon on September 15. Referring to the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody of the morality police, he stated that when Mahsa was arrested for her attire and her body was returned to her family, it was painful for all people. He also questioned why someone whose "hijab might have been insufficient" should be killed. The Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan emphasized that the people of Iran are seeking freedom and justice, expressing dissatisfaction with both the domestic and foreign policies of the Islamic Republic, which he claimed have failed. He noted that people are unhappy that specialists are fleeing the country or are confined to their homes, and that incompetent individuals and managers have taken control of the country. This prominent Sunni figure added that the Iranian nation is in pursuit of justice and is thirsty for it. The voice that is currently rising among Iranians inside and outside the country is one of justice-seeking. People want freedom and are tired of discrimination and inequality. Mawlawi Abdulhamid severely criticized the economic situation in Iran, stating that the country's currency has lost its value and life has become difficult. People also have no hope that this situation will change, attributing it all to the wrong policies governing the country. Nevertheless, Mawlawi Abdulhamid stated that "the Iranian nation has awakened," expressing happiness over this awakening, which he sees as the beginning of victory for the nation. According to him, today Iranians from all ethnicities and tendencies have united. On Friday, the internet in Zahedan and some other cities in Sistan and Baluchestan experienced disruptions, similar to previous weeks, and the online broadcast of Mawlawi Abdulhamid's speech was cut short. NetBlocks, a company that monitors internet access restrictions worldwide, reported significant disruptions in Zahedan's internet on Friday, September 15. NetBlocks added that this issue is part of a "weekly pattern of internet shutdowns in the region" targeting anti-government protesters and occurring ahead of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. Simultaneously, the news site "Halosh" reported that threatening messages were sent to residents of Sistan and Baluchestan by telecommunications companies as the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death and the "Bloody Friday tragedy of Zahedan" approaches. After dozens of worshippers were killed in the "Bloody Friday" of Zahedan on October 8 last year, the city has been the scene of anti-government protests every Friday following Mawlawi Abdulhamid's often critical sermons. In these demonstrations, people have chanted slogans against the leaders of the Islamic Republic, emphasizing the need to identify, introduce, and hold accountable those responsible for the Bloody Friday incident in Zahedan. Protesters in another "protest Friday" in Zahedan chanted: "Political prisoners must be freed." Mawlawi Abdulhamid stated that the Islamic Republic has not treated Sunnis fairly and equally. He criticized the government for "spending money on religion" and urged it to address the people's problems. Protesters in Zahedan demanded the release of political prisoners, and Mawlawi Abdulhamid stated that the country's problems cannot be solved by issuing death sentences.