Molavi Abdulhamid Criticizes 'Ban on Candidacy for Women and Sunnis' in Presidential Elections

Molavi Abdulhamid Ismailzahi, in his Friday prayer sermon on June 15 in Zahedan, criticized the 'ban' on the candidacy of 'women and Sunnis' in Iran's presidential elections. The Sunni Imam of Zahedan emphasized that as long as policies do not change, the President 'cannot do anything in Iran.' Molavi Abdulhamid stated: 'The prohibition of registration and presence of women and Sunnis for the presidency, as mentioned in Article 115 of the Constitution, does not comply with 'Islamic Sharia and international laws,' and for the past 45 years, three groups—'women,' 'Sunnis,' and those qualified and capable individuals who do not belong to a specific religious and political spectrum—have always been deprived.' Six candidates approved for the presidential election; Larijani and Ahmadinejad were disqualified. According to Article 115 of the Iranian Constitution, 'the President must be elected from among religious and political figures who meet the following conditions: of Iranian origin, subject to Iran, capable and prudent, with a good reputation and trustworthiness, and a believer in the principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the official religion of the country.' Based on Article 112 of the Constitution, the official religion in Iran is Ja'fari Ithna Ashari (Shia). Considering these two articles, the Guardian Council, which in the Islamic Republic has the duty of interpreting the Constitution and reviewing the qualifications of election candidates, has so far rejected the qualifications of female candidates, Sunnis, and critics. The Sunni Imam further described the Guardian Council's interpretation of Article 115 as incorrect, stating that 'political figures' are experts in the political arena who have managerial capabilities. Previously, Jalal Jalalizadeh, a Sunni representative from Sanandaj in the sixth parliament, reported that security agents prevented him from registering for the presidential election. Molavi Abdulhamid also referred to his role in calling for votes for 'principlists' in the thirteenth presidential election, saying: 'Although the election team of the thirteenth government did not promise to select a minister from among Sunnis, they promised to appoint a governor, deputy minister, and ambassador from among Sunnis.' He added: 'Unfortunately, not only did these events not happen, but during the thirteenth government, many Sunni prayer rooms in cities were closed, and the document of the central Sunni prayer room in Tehran was illegally registered in the names of other individuals, and prayers were suspended.' The Imam of Zahedan added: 'After the Mahsa incident, the bloody Friday incident in Zahedan occurred without any reason, which was very painful. Also, during the protests of the Iranian people and the confrontations with protesters and detainees, the law was violated. All these were injustices that occurred against the Iranian people during the thirteenth government.' Molavi Abdulhamid emphasized: 'We said to condemn the bloody Friday incident in Zahedan and win the hearts of the people, but they could not even do that.' In the shooting towards those who intended to hold a protest gathering after Friday prayers in Zahedan on September 30, 2022, several were killed, with human rights sources reporting the number to be over 100. The severe government crackdown and the danger of protests going 'underground' are evident. What doctors and eyewitnesses recount about the injured from the protests reveals the harsh realities. The limitations of relations between China and Iran have become apparent amid the protests. An official from the governor's office reported that 400 people were killed in Mashhad; a journalist from Ham-Mihan stated that Tehran smells of death. Eyewitness accounts from the massacre and the situation in several cities in Isfahan province describe them as 'like war-torn areas.' The last representative of Mossad in Tehran passed away amid the Iran crisis. Trump announced an agreement to hold a meeting about Greenland in Davos. Weather conditions halted the search for an Iranian mountaineer on Makalu peak.