Response from Mawlawi Abdolhamid's Office to Government Media Accusations: Completely False

The office of the Sunni Friday prayer leader in Zahedan rejected the claims made by government media regarding the arrest of Mawlawi Abdolhamid's associates, coinciding with the broadcast of confessions from an individual facing accusations of 'attempting biological assassination' against Mawlawi Abdolhamid, calling these claims and the statements of the detained individual 'completely false.' On Wednesday, July 7, the office released a statement on its Telegram channel detailing the assassination attempt against Mawlawi Abdolhamid, stating that the remarks of the suspect, who was identified at Dar al-Uloom Zahedan and handed over to intelligence officials for further investigation, were entirely scripted and untrue. The office also noted the dissemination of these 'scripted statements' by certain government-affiliated media, adding: 'The extensive propaganda launched by government-affiliated media is a form of propaganda, media blackmail, and content devoid of honesty. If the public prosecutor wishes to act on the recent recommendations of the Leader, they must confront such government media that create public confusion and distort the truth.' The statement further mentioned: 'The statements of the individual in question, who detailed their objectives by naming the planners, have been recorded and, in order to prevent unrest, their release has been withheld.' The office of the Sunni Friday prayer leader in Zahedan emphasized that the arrests of several of Mawlawi Abdolhamid's close associates were aimed at political pressure and restricting the media activities of Dar al-Uloom, silencing its voice. The failed assassination plot provided an opportunity to arrest individuals under this pretext and exert more pressure on the Dar al-Uloom Zahedan community. On Wednesday, July 7, government media released a video of the forced confessions of a Sunni citizen who had been arrested on June 17 by the security personnel of Makki Mosque in Zahedan. In this video, the Sunni citizen claimed that after his arrest, he was pressured and harassed by Mawlawi Abdolhamid's associates and even by him. However, Mawlawi Abdolhamid's office stated that the individual, after being identified by the security officials of Makki Mosque, made contradictory statements and ultimately claimed without any pressure or threat that he had come to Dar al-Uloom and Makki Mosque in Zahedan to investigate and identify individuals around Mawlawi Abdolhamid, and was supposed to receive some poison from an individual, smear it on his hands, and then go to Mawlawi Abdolhamid to shake hands with him, thus attempting to poison and biologically assassinate him. Zahedan, centered around Makki Mosque and Mawlawi Abdolhamid, has been a scene of protests against the Islamic Republic every Friday since the beginning of the protests in Iran. According to documents obtained by hacking government media, military and police commanders had called for the arrest of Mawlawi Abdolhamid last winter, but Ali Khamenei had demanded that this Sunni religious figure from Sistan and Baluchestan be 'discredited.' Abdul Sattar Dooshoki: The broadcast of forced confessions against Mawlawi Abdolhamid further discredits the Islamic Republic. On Friday, July 2, both the protests of the people of Zahedan and Mawlawi Abdolhamid's criticisms continued. Abdul Sattar Dooshoki: Mawlawi Abdolhamid has become a national leader by defending women and Baha'is. The government's news agency responded to the recent arrests in Zahedan: 'Decisive action' against those spreading 'rumors' aimed at 'chaos.' Mawlawi Abdolhamid warned Russia and its 'supporters'; the grandson of the Friday prayer leader of Zahedan was arrested. Mawlawi Abdolhamid: I will risk my life for the interests of the people. The judiciary of Sistan and Baluchestan threatened Mawlawi Abdolhamid; 'If you do not prove the claim of an assassination attempt, we will take action.' The statement from the office of the Friday prayer leader of Zahedan regarding the pilgrimage of Mawlawi Abdolhamid; 'A lie' and part of a 'destruction project.' The failed assassination plot against Mawlawi Abdolhamid; an IRGC intelligence officer was arrested 'disguised as a cleric.' Mawlawi Abdolhamid: You cannot silence the voices of women; the rights of Baha'is must not be violated.