Iran’s top Sunni cleric Mowlavi Abdolhamid has rejected allegations by regime media as a smear campaign aimed at justifying the crackdown on the Sunni minority.
During his sermon, the outspoken Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sunni-majority Sistan-Baluchestan, rejected reports by Revolutionary Guard-affiliated Fars news agency this week about the Makki Jameh Mosque of Zahedan. The mosque has been the center of anti-regime rallies since the Women, Life, Freedom movement started last year.
Citing an unnamed "informed source,” Fars reported Wednesday that officials at the Makki Mosque had imported 80 mining computers with the help of foreign elements and were involved in cryptocurrency mining. Earlier in the week, the IRGC mouthpiece claimed that security forces have seized "two shipments of 22 communication devices and Starlink satellite internet kits sent by the US National Security Agency for Abdolhamid’s office." Fars said five people were also arrested for facilitating the transfer.
Fars said the shipment of these equipment was aimed at "recreating turmoil in Zahedan," "laying the groundwork for secure communication between domestic agents and foreign entities outside Iran," and "facilitating their propaganda and media activities in the virtual space."
The agency did not provide any evidence to support its claims and no security or intelligence agency has repeated or confirmed such allegations.
Addressing the false accusations, Abdolhamid...
Note: This is the first of two articles today on Thursday evening’s hearing before the County Commission on next year’s property tax rate, budget and special taxing district. The second article, a...