Senior Iranian Sunni cleric Mowlana Abdolhamid has written to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and President Hassan Rohani to protest the demolition of the Sunni prayer house in the Poonak neighbourhood of Tehran. In his letter, the Friday Mass Imam of Zahedan decries the lack of a building permit to allow the construction of […]
Tag: Sunnis in Iran
Sunni cleric calls for inclusive programming on Seda va Sima
Molana Abdolhamid Zahedan, a Friday Mass Imam, has written to the new head of Iran’s national broadcaster, Seda va Sima, asking that its programming show “respect” for ethnic and religious minorities and calling for “the airing of Sunni prayer call in Sunni regions of the country.” Sunni online reports that the senior Sunni cleric […]
Plan for Sunni prayer centre to proceed in Zahedan
A senior Iranian Sunni leader and Zahedan Friday Imam has announced that after 12 years of waiting, a piece of land has been granted for the construction of a Sunni prayer centre. Mowlana Abdolhamid referred to the land as “a gift from the Islamic government to the people” and expressed gratitude to provincial officials […]
Sunni cleric barred from leaving country
Shia-on-line reports that Mowlavi Abdolhamid, a senior Sunni leader and the Friday Mass Imam of Zahedan, is now facing a travel ban. The report adds that Mowlavi Abdolhamid was planning to leave Iran for a trip to Turkey when he was made aware of the travel ban. Last year, Mowlavi Abdolhamid was also […]
Activists call for fair trials for Sunnis on death row
A group of Nationalist-Religious activists outside Iran have issued a statement calling for the death sentences of Sunni prisoners in Rejai Shahr, Qezel Hessar and Sanandaj Prisons to be rescinded. The statement calls for the withdrawal of the sentences and the processing of the charges against these prisoners in a fair trial. According to […]
Sunni leaders speak out against assassinations
Mowlavi Abdolhamid, Zahedan’s Sunni Friday Mass Imam, and a number of other senior Sunni leaders have condemned recent assassinations in the cities of Rask and Sarbaz in Sistan-Baluchistan Province. Sunni-on-line reports that Mowlavi Abdolhamid, as well as the management of the Zahedan seminary and the Society of Sunni Clergy of Zahedan, have issued separate […]
MP praises role of Sunni leaders in hostage release
Iranian MP Ali Motahari said in Parliament that the role of Sunni religious leaders and elders in negotiating the release of the abducted border officers should not be overlooked. “On the issue of release of the border officers, certainly security and intelligence officers had a fundamental role, but this should not deny the part […]
Prisoners slam government for keeping Imam from conference
Sunni prisoners in Rejaishahr, Evin and Qezel Hessar Prisons have issued a statement protesting the government’s decision to ban the Friday Mass Imam of Zahedan from traveling abroad to attend the World Islamic Conference. Mowlavi Abdolhamid Esmail Zehi, the senior Sunni Muslim leader in Zahedan, was prevented from attending the World Islamic Conference in […]
Sunni prisoners end hunger strike in Iranian prison
Four Iranian Sunni prisoners in Qezel Hessar Prison have ended their hunger strike after 75 days. The Human Rights Reporters News Agency reports that the four prisoners began their hunger strike to protest their death sentences and to question the fairness of the proceedings against them. The prisoners report that they ended their hunger […]
Iranian administration promises to appoint minorities to key posts
The Iranian president’s religious and ethnic minority representative said on Sunday December 22 that the administration is working toward appointing ethnic and religious minorities to key posts. Ali Younesi was visiting Sistan-Baluchistan Province when he told IRNA that the government’s actions are based on requests from Baluchi and Sunni elders and trusted figures. Younesi […]