Iranian Sunni Cleric Says Executions Are “Unjustifiable”

Iran's most prominent Sunni cleric used his Friday sermon to criticize the increased use of capital punishment by the country's Shia establishment. 

"Our interpretation of Islam advocates moderation, and according to our beliefs executions are unjustifiable," Molavi Abdulhamid, the Sunni Friday prayer leader of the southeastern city of Zahedan, said on February 23.

The cleric also said that coerced confessions of prisoners are in direct violation of Sharia law and the Islamic Republic’s constitution.

Local sources reported a heavy security presence around Zahedan’s Makki Mosque during Friday prayers, with the authorities scrutinizing worshippers.

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

Ethnic minorities in Iran face discrimination which curtails their access to education, employment and political office, and are also disproportionately affected by death sentences imposed for vague charges, according to Amnesty International. 

Authorities also subject members of religious minorities such as Sunnis to discrimination in law and practice, arbitrary detention, unjust prosecutions, torture and other ill-treatment for professing or practising their faith.