Molavi Abdolhamid Criticizes Government Structure in Iran: The President Cannot Do Anything

Molavi Abdolhamid, the Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, criticized the political structure of the Islamic Republic, stating that the President lacks the necessary powers to improve conditions in the country. This influential Sunni cleric emphasized during his Friday sermon on June 8 that the President 'cannot do anything' in light of the ongoing crisis of financial corruption, poverty, widespread discrimination, and the absence of freedom and justice. In the upcoming fourteenth presidential election, 80 candidates have registered, scheduled for July 8, 2024. Molavi Abdolhamid pointed to the weak performance of previous presidents, describing the thirteenth government and prior administrations as incapable of controlling inflation, stating, 'Although they promised during the election period to improve the livelihood and economy of the people, they have been unable to do anything.' He urged the candidates of the upcoming presidential election to reconsider their decisions if they are unable to meet public demands, including providing freedom, implementing justice, controlling inflation, and eliminating gender, ethnic, and religious discrimination. Molavi Abdolhamid reminded that the people are disillusioned with elections, believing that 'those who have registered cannot do anything; because the predecessors did nothing.' As the Islamic Republic intensifies media censorship ahead of this presidential election, some government officials have described the election as 'political triviality' and a 'farce.' In part of his speech, the Sunni cleric criticized the death sentence issued for Mohammad Khodrnejad, a Sunni cleric, and called for the release of political prisoners in Iran. The Supreme Court recently confirmed the death sentence for Mohammad Khodrnejad, a 45-year-old Sunni cleric and one of the detainees from the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests in Boukan. The Revolutionary Court of Urmia had sentenced him to death and 16 years in prison last December on charges of 'corruption on earth,' 'propaganda against the regime,' and 'harming the integrity or independence of the country.' New government restrictions ahead of the election have made strikes, sit-ins, protests, and encouraging boycotts 'crimes.' Former sports official Mohammad Dadkan stated that people do not vote because they do not like us. Candidacies of Ghalibaf, Jahangiri, and Pourmohammadi; Khamenei's warning: Avoid 'slander and defamation' to preserve dignity. The continuation of the 'farce' of election registration; Nika Shakeri's mother: Participating in the elections is partnering in the 'crimes of the devilish republic.'