Outspoken Sunni Leader Under Travel Ban For Holy Pilgrimage

The office of the outspoken Sunni leader of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province says the Ministry of Intelligence has prevented him from attending Hajj pilgrimage.

Several regime officials have opposed Abdlohamid’s upcoming Hajj trip during the next Eid festival later this month, banning him from traveling to Mecca.

Officially known as Sheikh Abdolhamdid Esmailzehi, the Sunni cleric is widely popular because of his willingness to challenge Khamenei’s absolute authority. In addition the country's Sunni minority are heavily persecuted and the cleric has long been an advocate of minority rights, to the ire of the regime.

An audio file leaked by the hacktivist group Black Reward in December revealed that the Islamic Republic planned to tarnish Abdolhamid’s reputation to curb his influence.

In November, the outspoken Sunni Imam said women, ethnic and religious groups, and minorities have faced discrimination after the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979. He also called for an internationally monitored referendum in Iran saying by killing and suppression the government cannot push back a nation.

Abdolhamid also said earlier that officials of the country should be selected from the secular population, noting that not all Iranian people are "religious" and as such do not accept religious authority.

“Don't blame me for this view. Some may not accept religion, but the right policy is that if they have merit and conscience, they should be employed," he said.