Prominent Cleric Banned from Pilgrimage Voyage

Iran’s security agencies have banned Molavi Abdulhamid, the revered Sunni cleric, from leaving the country for a planned Hajj pilgrimage to Islam’s holy places in Saudi Arabia.

A statement issued by Molavi Abdulhamid's office revealed on June 14 that the prominent Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, in Iran’s Sistan and Baolichistan province, had already prepared for his pilgrimage journey.

But his plans have been abruptly halted due to what he describes as government "obstruction."

According to the statement, the ban was imposed based on pronouncements made by specific officials within the Ministry of Intelligence.

The precise reasons behind the ban have yet to be fully disclosed.

The 76-year-old cleric has emerged as a prominent voice of dissent within Iran, particularly since the eruption of nationwide protests in September 2022. These protests have been marked by calls for substantial economic, social and political reforms.

Molavi Abdulhamid, widely respected as a Sunni spiritual leader in Iran, has repeatedly warned Islamic Republic authorities about the futility of governing through sustained repression. 

He has also stressed the urgent need for an open referendum to allow the Iranian people to determine the nation's future.