Molavi Abdolhamid Criticizes Khamenei: The 'Highest Authority' of the Country Should Have Condemned the 'Crime' in Zahedan Mosque

Molavi Abdolhamid, the Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, once again criticized Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, during his Friday sermon on January 12. Referring to the anniversary of the downing of the Ukrainian plane, he expressed sympathy with the families of the victims, stating, 'It was truly a great loss and an important issue.' Molavi Abdolhamid criticized the Islamic Republic's response to 'this great mistake,' saying, 'I wish senior officials had apologized and condemned this crime.' The official account of this prominent Sunni figure in Iran on X (formerly Twitter) also posted on Tuesday regarding the anniversary of the Ukrainian plane's downing by the IRGC missiles, stating, 'The death of dozens of innocent passengers of the Ukrainian plane was a painful and unforgettable incident. Only the execution of justice and impartial investigation would have comforted the survivors, which unfortunately has not been realized so far.' The Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan again criticized Ali Khamenei regarding the 'Bloody Friday' incident in Zahedan, saying, 'A crime occurred in this mosque in Zahedan, where a hundred were killed and nearly 300 were disabled, blind, paralyzed, and injured. It was expected that the highest authority in the country would condemn this crime and address the issue.' According to him, the lack of attention from Islamic Republic officials to issues such as 'the execution of justice, ensuring freedoms, and avoiding forced confessions in detention centers' has harmed the country's credibility and, for example, led to the devaluation of the national currency and numerous economic problems for the people. Molavi Abdolhamid continued, 'I am pressured for saying these words, and some who have been my friends become upset with me, but our conscience compels us to defend the rights of the people, and we consider it our duty.' He reiterated the necessity of meritocracy in managing the country's affairs, stating, 'The Iranian nation, whether Shia or Sunni, Muslim or non-Muslim, and from various ethnicities, makes no difference to us.' Security forces of the Islamic Republic massacred dozens of Zahedani worshippers on Friday, October 8, 2022. Since then, this day has become known as 'Bloody Friday of Zahedan.' Since then, Molavi Abdolhamid has raised criticisms against officials, institutions, and policies of the Islamic Republic in his weekly Friday sermons.