Protesters Flood Zahedan Streets as Sunni Cleric Praises Iranian People’s “Awakening”

Hundreds of anti-government protestors took to the streets of Zahedan on the eve of the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in police custody, as the Sunni Friday prayer leader of the restive southeastern city hailed the "awakening” of the Iranian people.

"Today, Iranians from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities and religious affiliations stand united" in their quest for fundamental changes in the country, Molavi Abdulhamid, Iran's most prominent Sunni cleric, said in his Friday sermon.

🎞️ As the first anniversary of #MahsaAmini's death in police custody nears, hundreds of protestors took to the streets of #Zahedan and chanted anti-government slogans. Protesters in Zahedan have continued demonstrating each week after Friday prayers since protests broke out… pic.twitter.com/Z6yNeifjWJ

— IranWire (@IranWireEnglish) September 15, 2023

The policies of the Islamic Republic “must undergo transformation,” and “people's satisfaction must be prioritized," he also said.

Local sources in Zahedan reported that the live broadcast of Molavi's speech was interrupted due to a disruption to internet connectivity in Sistan and Baluchistan province.

Global internet monitoring organization NetBlocks confirmed the disruption, saying that it “continues the weekly pattern of regional internet shutdowns targeting anti-government protests.”

After the sermon, protesters took to the streets to voice their grievances against the government and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, despite the deployment of many special forces and uniformed personnel. 

"I will kill whoever killed my brother" and "Either death or freedom" were among the slogans chanted by the crowds.

Placards bore messages like "Khamenei, we will not forget Zahedan's killings" and "Baluch, stand up once for all, either martyrdom or freedom."

Zahedan is the capital of Sistan and Baluchistan province, which is home to Iran's Sunni Baluch minority of up to 2 million people. 

The restive city has seen protest rallies almost every Friday since September 30 of last year, when security forces killed nearly 100 people in the deadliest incident in the widespread demonstrations sparked by the death in police custody of 22-year-old Amini.

In his sermon, Molavi said that the people of Zahedan continue to demand accountability for those, “at every level and rank," responsible for the tragedy.

The cleric also addressed the intensifying crackdown on women who refuse to wear a headscarf in public, saying: "No one should be killed for being bare-headed or for not observing hijab." 

"No officer is legally permitted to engage in such actions. Protests occur worldwide, but nowhere do they result in the killing or blinding of protesters," he added.