We Condemn The Killing Of People In The Recent Protests And Express Sympathy With The Bereaved Families

Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid, speaking today (January 16th, 2026) at the Friday prayer ceremony in Zahedan, referred to the recent protests by the people and strongly condemned the killing of thousands of people and protesters during these events. He expressed sympathy with the families of the victims and said: We, the people of this province, and all the people of Iran share in the grief and sorrow of the bereaved families, and we are in mourning.

🔹 The Iranian Nation Voted For The “Islamic Republic” In Hope Of “Solving Problems” And “Eliminating Discrimination And Inequality”
According to the information portal of the Office of the Sunni Friday Prayer Leader of Zahedan, Mawlana Abdolhamid stated at the beginning of his remarks: After the victory of the Revolution in 1979, the Iranian nation voted by an overwhelming majority for the Islamic Republic as their system of governance, in the hope that both their religious and worldly problems would be resolved and that policies would be arranged in a way that would bring prosperity in this world and the Hereafter.
In those years, recalling the era of the Messenger of God , the Companions, and the Ahl al-Bayt, the people of Iran expected that discrimination and inequality among ethnic groups, denominations, religions, and all Iranians—men and women alike—would be eliminated; that equality and brotherhood would prevail in society; and that the problems and concerns of the past would be resolved.
He added: Unfortunately, over time, personal discretion was applied in many matters, and problems arose. For some time now, a large segment of the Iranian people has been protesting political, economic, and other issues. The people of Iran also raised their demands during the protests of 2019 and 2022.

🔹 The Iranian People Are Dissatisfied With Domestic And Foreign Policies And With Economic And Livelihood Conditions
The Friday Prayer Leader of Zahedan said: The Iranian nation—one of the finest and most distinguished nations in the world—showed patience and forbearance over this period. However, complaints have increased in recent times due to poverty and economic hardship. Prolonged sanctions, misuse of resources, and financial corruption have dealt a heavy blow to the country’s economy, and unfortunately, no effective solution was devised over this long period to remove the sanctions. As a result, people have faced severe pressures in their daily lives, and today the Iranian people are dissatisfied with domestic and foreign policies as well as with the economic and livelihood situation.

🔹 Officials Should Have Entered Into Dialogue With The People
Mawlana Abdolhamid emphasized: The best policy would have been for officials to sit down and engage in dialogue with the people on political and economic issues. It has been said many times—and today many experts also acknowledge—that the economy is intertwined with politics; if policies are reformed and changed, the country’s economic problems will be resolved automatically, without the need for economists or specialists.
He added: We have always said that you should change your domestic and foreign policies so that the nation can stand with you. All of these remarks were made out of goodwill and sincere concern. I have repeatedly stated—and both the people and officials know—that we are not seeking position, office, or authority.

🔹 A Ruler Must Not Be “Harsh”; Rather, He Must Be Humble Toward The People And Listen To Them
Mawlana Abdolhamid stressed the humility of a ruler toward the people and said: Humility toward the people is a command of Almighty God. God Almighty addresses the Noble Messenger and says:
“And lower your wing to those of the believers who follow you.”
In this verse, God commands the Prophet —as a ruler—to stand alongside the people and to listen to them.
He added: A group of hypocrites in Madinah would mockingly say that the Messenger of God was all ears and listened even to those who lied—“and they say, ‘He is an ear.’” God Almighty responds: “Say: an ear of goodness for you.” This characteristic of the Prophet was for your benefit. The Messenger of God was not ill-tempered or harsh. Elsewhere, God Almighty says that if the Prophet had been harsh and hard-hearted, all people would have dispersed from around him. If a ruler truly follows the path of the Prophet’s conduct and Sunnah, he must be entirely receptive and attentive, and not harsh or aggressive.

🔹 Imam Hasan Said: I Do Not Wish To Shed Blood For The Survival Of My Rule
The Friday Prayer Leader of Zahedan stated: When we associate ourselves with Imam Ali we must reflect on his words—that if it were not for the establishment of justice, this government would not be worth even a penny to him. Imam Ali did not pursue worldly wealth; rather, he stood alongside the people.
Imam Hasan who held the largest territory of the Islamic state and enjoyed military superiority, nevertheless made peace with Mu‘awiya and declared that he was not willing for Muslims to be killed. Imam Hasan said: I do not wish to resort to bloodshed for the survival and continuation of my rule.

🔹 In The Recent Uprising, The Most Appropriate Approach Was To Listen To The People
Continuing his remarks at the Zahedan Friday prayer ceremony, the Friday Prayer Leader of Zahedan referred to the recent public protests and said: The Iranian nation are the owners of this homeland and the benefactors of all of us, including officials. All officials—directly or indirectly—have come to power through the vote of this very nation. Therefore, the people’s satisfaction must be secured and their voices must be heard; yet unfortunately, throughout this period, the people’s voice was not heard.
He added: In the recent uprising, when people came onto the scene and protested, the most appropriate course was to listen to them. We should have been thinking about creating changes that reflect the will of the majority of the Iranian nation. Fulfilling the demands of the majority is in line with pleasing the Almighty. We are all Iranian, and we must show greater compassion toward one another.
He continued: We are all Iranian, and any casualties in these events are borne by the Iranian nation itself. Whether we are killed or we kill, we are Iranian. Iranians are a noble people and must show mercy to one another. Those in positions of power should show the greatest forbearance, take the lead in this regard, listen to the people, and fulfill the people’s demands and satisfaction. If the people’s satisfaction is secured, no one will have anything to object to.

🔹 In The Recent Protests, Thousands Of People Were Killed; We Share In The Grief Of The Bereaved Families
Expressing sorrow over the loss of life in the recent protests, Mawlana Abdolhamid said: In these protests—especially on the Friday and Saturday nights of last week—thousands of people and protesters were killed. We strongly condemn this killing and offer our condolences to every family that lost a loved one in these protests. We express our sympathy with them and pray for the swift and complete recovery of those injured.
He added: The Iranian nation is like a single family, and all the people of Iran are in mourning over this tragedy. We, along with the people of the province and the country, consider ourselves partners in the grief and sorrow of the families who lost their loved ones in Tehran and other cities across the country.

🔹 Release Those Detained In The Recent Protests And Political Prisoners
The Friday Prayer Leader of Zahedan also called for the release of detainees, saying: My recommendation is that those arrested during the recent uprising be released, so that this act may bring solace to the families who lost their loved ones, as well as to the entire Iranian nation. I repeat: release political prisoners as well, and listen to what they have to say.

🔹 Forced Confessions Are Contrary To Faith And Integrity / “False Reports” Only Complicate Matters
Mawlana Abdolhamid strongly condemned forced confessions, stating: Extracting forced confessions and compelling individuals to confess or sign statements for acts they never committed is contrary to faith and integrity, and Islam does not accept such methods.
He noted: Unfortunately, during the Mahsa protests and afterward—following the very bitter and tragic incident of 8 Mehr in Zahedan—some claimed at the time that groups and separatists had killed people. However, due to the patience of the people, the preservation of security, and the defense of truth, the facts became clear: no such groups or separatists played any role in those events. Therefore, when reports contain falsehoods and realities are not stated, matters only become more complicated and hostilities intensify.

🔹 Holding “Peaceful And Nonviolent Protests” Is The People’s Right
Concluding his remarks, Mawlana Abdolhamid once again emphasized the legal right to peaceful protest, saying: I have repeatedly stated that holding healthy, peaceful protests is the people’s right. However, these protests must not be drawn into violence—no one should set shops on fire, break windows, or attack others. Rather, people should voice their concerns and present their demands, and these words and demands must be heard.