Protesters in Sistan and Baluchestan Demand Freedom for Political Prisoners with Slogans Against Khomeini and Khamenei

Protesters took to the streets in at least three cities in Sistan and Baluchestan on Friday, September 3, in response to the detention of Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naqshbandi, the Friday prayer leader of Rask. They chanted slogans against the former and current leaders of the Islamic Republic and called for the release of political prisoners. At the same time, media covering news related to Sistan and Baluchestan reported a security atmosphere in the cities of Rask, Khash, and Zahedan. According to reports published on the 'Halosh' website, protesters in these cities demanded the release of the Friday prayer leader of Rask and also shouted slogans against the Islamic Republic. Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naqshbandi was arrested on August 20 while traveling from Chabahar on charges including 'disturbing public opinion,' 'acting against national security,' and 'illegally occupying national lands' by government agents. The 'Rasanak' website also reported continuous patrols of dozens of vehicles, motorcycles, and military forces in the city of Rask, along with military helicopters flying over the city during Friday prayers. According to 'Halosh,' worshippers in Khash also gathered after Friday prayers and shouted slogans against the Islamic Republic despite the heavy security atmosphere in Al-Khalil Mosque and the streets of the city. Some citizens in Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan province, also expressed their protest against the arrest of the Friday prayer leader of Rask by chanting 'Death to the Dictator' and 'Political prisoners must be freed.' Reports have also emerged of road blockages between the cities of Sab Suran and Paskoh, as well as from the city of Sarbaz to Mehristan by protesters. According to 'Rasanak,' several political and human rights activists from Baluchistan had called for a protest against the arrest of Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naqshbandi on Thursday, September 2. The Baluch activists' campaign reported on September 2 that government agents threatened to burn the beard and mustache of Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naqshbandi. According to this report, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened Abdolghafar Naqshbandi, the son of Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naqshbandi, that if he did not remain silent and did not cease his activities, they would burn his father's beard and mustache. The report did not mention the nature of Abdolghafar Naqshbandi's activities. Abdolghafar Naqshbandi, the former Sunni Friday prayer leader of Rask, was the first Sunni cleric to confirm the news of the sexual assault by the then commander of the Chabahar police on a 15-year-old Baluch girl last autumn and called for punishment of this police official. The arrest of the Friday prayer leader of Rask has led to increased dissatisfaction, according to the Friday prayer leader of Zahedan.