Mowlavi Abdolhamid: Government Budget Has Caused Scholars' Silence and Ignored People's Demands

The Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan criticized the government budget for religious institutions and mosques, stating that this has led scholars to remain silent instead of addressing the people's demands. Abdolhamid Ismailzahi, known as Mowlavi Abdolhamid, said on Friday, June 2, that scholars should not become dependent on the government. They must be independent and speak the truth. Scholars from religious seminaries, universities, and religious schools should operate independently and reform governments, society, and the people. Mowlavi Abdolhamid pointed to corruption in Shia seminaries and addressed the leaders of the Islamic Republic, saying: 'Do not make scholars dependent. Do not pay them salaries. We have said since the beginning of the revolution in seminars and meetings that mosques and seminaries should not receive government salaries. There should be no budget allocated for seminaries and religious schools in the national budget.' His criticism comes at a time when hundreds of religious centers and seminaries receive significant financial assistance from the public budget each year. In recent years, some have compared these budgets to health, medical, and service budgets, revealing that these religious sectors receive several times more assistance than essential sectors for the people. Mowlavi Abdolhamid added: 'With these financial aids, you have created a gap between seminaries and scholars... You have brought astronomical figures to the religious sector. This has harmed religion. I wish you had not done this. I wish scholars had endured hardship and hunger but did not take money so they could criticize and not remain silent... Some maintained appearances, but some of them, when they passed away, had billions in their accounts. This is not befitting for scholars. Scholars should live among the people.' Mowlavi Abdolhamid also commented on the revelations by the former head of Evin Prison regarding the 1988 massacre, saying: 'This Mortazavi, the former head of Evin Prison, who now speaks and reveals things from an unknown source, has managed Evin Prison. He mentions the executions of '67. We have heard about this but not in such detail. Mass executions and the execution of thousands. We are astonished by these matters. He mentioned the rape of girls who were executed. Groups that clashed with the regime at that time were executed that year. We were very shaken by this revelation. These events harm our country, our nation, and even the government and the system. In this context, there is currently mistreatment of prisoners in detention centers. Some of them have interviewed with the media. They have mentioned instances of abuse and inappropriate treatment that contradict Islam and the principles of the religion. Scholars should not remain silent on these issues.' After the Friday prayer on June 2, a group of people in Zahedan took to the streets, continuing the trend of anti-government protests over the past eight months, chanting anti-government slogans in another 'Protest Friday.' According to images shared on social media, slogans from the Zahedan protesters included 'We do not want the Islamic Republic,' 'Death to the child-killing government,' and 'I will kill whoever killed my brother.' Following the killing of dozens of Zahedan worshippers amid anti-government protests over the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini on Friday, October 8, 2022, this city has been the scene of anti-government protests every Friday.