Iran’s Sunni Leader Seeks Medical Treatment Abroad

Mowlavi Abdolhamid, Iran’s prominent Sunni leader from Zahedan, has reportedly traveled abroad for medical treatment.

His official Telegram channel did not disclose his destination but reassured followers of his good health.

Haalvash, a human rights organization that focuses on Sistan-Baluchestan, reported that Abdolhamid has traveled to Tehran on Wednesday before heading to Turkey for treatment.

There are some unverified reports that he is suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

The trip comes amidst a backdrop of increased scrutiny from Iranian authorities in f the outspoken cleric who has openly criticized the government’s persecution of the Sunni minority. In June, reports surfaced that the Ministry of Intelligence had banned him from making his pilgrimage to Hajj, citing ‘security concerns’.

The Sunni cleric, 77 has been a vocal critic of the Iranian regime, particularly following the violent events of September 30, 2022, in Zahedan, which saw nearly a hundred citizens killed by government forces amid the nationwide uprising dubbed Women, Life, Freedom.

The incident was the bloodiest during the nationwide uprising triggered by the death in morality-police custody of Mahsa Amini in 2022.

The cleric has boldly opposed the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s policies in the wake of the uprising which has seen thousands of protesters arrested on trumped up charges and multiple executions. He has demanded the repeal of execution and decrees against protesters.

His criticisms have put him in danger and drawn sharp rebuke from conservative elements within Iran, with Kayhan newspaper—a media outlet closely aligned with Khamenei—accusing him of serving the enemies of Islam.