Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hamid, speaking at the Friday prayer gathering on August 7, 2026, described the country’s “twenty years of sanctions” and “widespread financial corruption” as among the most important causes of the economic and livelihood problems facing the people.
Criticizing the “weakness of the authorities in lifting the sanctions,” he called on the Iranian authorities, in view of the country’s current circumstances and the “crisis of poverty and hunger among the people,” to focus on “strengthening dialogue and negotiations.”
The Friday prayer Imam of Zahedan once again stressed the need for a broad-based and public effort to combat the problem of kidnapping for ransom. He called on various segments of society, particularly religious scholars, tribal elders, and influential figures, to “take serious action” to eradicate kidnapping for ransom from society.
“Widespread Corruption” and the “Authorities’ Weakness in Lifting Sanctions” Have Inflicted Severe Damage on the Country and the Nation
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid said: The country has been facing sanctions for more than twenty years, and this situation has inflicted very heavy damage on the homeland, the economy, and the entire population. The country’s administrators and authorities have also been unable to lift these sanctions because of their administrative weakness.
He added: In addition to the sanctions, widespread financial corruption and large-scale embezzlement have also existed in the country. This is as clear as daylight and cannot be denied. Officials, including the country’s highest-ranking authority, have repeatedly acknowledged that corruption has taken deep root in the country.
Until the Authorities Take Serious Steps toward Change and Reform, the People Will Not See a Bright Future for Themselves
The Friday prayer Imam of Zahedan further said: The authorities must devise an effective way to confront the corruption that exists in the country. It is true that the country is facing wartime and difficult conditions, but if the authorities do not formulate plans to address these corrupt practices and problems and do not pursue change and reform, how can the country be rebuilt?! The people must be able to see a bright future for themselves, and the authorities must demonstrate this future to the people in practice.
He added: A responsible official is not merely someone who thinks about managing the crisis of war. Alongside managing the war crisis, he must also manage the crisis of poverty and hunger in society, because poverty has dangerous consequences for people both in this world and in the Hereafter. An administrator or official who is unable to manage and address the country’s various crises is a weak administrator and official. The authorities should not think only about themselves and the system; rather, they should take the circumstances of the country and the nation into consideration and strengthen dialogue and negotiations.
Supporting Kidnappers Is a “Betrayal” of the People / Religious Scholars and Tribal Elders Should Think about the People’s Interests, Security, and Well-Being
Continuing his remarks, Mawlana Abdol-Hamid referred to the growing prevalence of the abhorrent practice of “kidnapping for ransom and extortion” in society, and said: In the past, when the number of murders in society increased, it was emphasized that the perpetrators should be pursued and arrested so that ethnic and family disputes and cycles of retaliatory killings would not emerge. Unfortunately, the killers were not arrested, to the point that people began to suspect that there might be a plan or scheme aimed at creating disputes and conflicts among the tribes.
The Zahedan Friday prayer Imam added: Eventually, at a meeting we held with tribal elders and community representatives, it was decided that the murderer should be handed over to the judicial authorities. When many tribes did so, further killings were prevented to some extent. However, in tribes that refused to hand over the murderer, killings continued within their families and tribes.
He added: Today, with regard to the increasing number of kidnappings for ransom in society, we are facing the same situation that previously existed with regard to murders. The people are alert and vigilant; they understand and analyze these issues. When kidnappers are neither pursued nor arrested, people suspect that there may be a plot under which kidnappers are deliberately not being pursued or arrested.
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid explained: For this reason, everyone—including religious scholars and tribal elders—blames and accuses the authorities responsible for public security and asks: Where are these people, and why are they doing nothing? One official said at a meeting with tribal elders that they knew where the hostages were being held and could dismantle the kidnappers’ operations within a week. If that is the case, why do you not do it? You are responsible, and this is your duty. If an official is killed, all authorities and security agencies mobilize to arrest the murderer. So why do you not arrest the kidnappers with the same determination?!
Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hamid further said: Support for kidnappers by religious scholars, tribal elders, or anyone else is a betrayal of the people. If a father supports his son who is involved in kidnapping, he is a traitor. Anyone who engages in banditry and kidnapping for ransom, regardless of whose son he is or which ethnic group or family he belongs to, is not a member of that family or tribe; rather, he is your enemy, seeking to bring disgrace upon your family, tribe, and region.
The famous Iranian Sunni scholar said: Those who kidnap innocent people, shed innocent blood, or unlawfully seize people’s property are, in reality, inviting divine punishment upon society. If divine punishment comes, it will affect everyone. If we do not stop the oppressor and defend the rights of the oppressed, we will be subjected to divine punishment.
He stressed: We all have a heavy responsibility in this regard. The responsibility of religious scholars and tribal elders is not merely to attend meetings and express their thanks. You do not belong to the government; you belong to the people. Therefore, you must think from the people’s perspective and, rather than focusing on your own interests and comfort, take into consideration the interests, well-being, and security of the people.
He added more: Religious scholars and tribal elders should think about the people’s well-being and security and defend their interests. When authorities and officials fail to fulfill their responsibilities, religious scholars and tribal elders must seek solutions to ensure the security of the region.
Some Want to Portray the Province as Unsafe for Traders and Investors; the People Should Remain Vigilant and Not Allow Kidnappers to Make the Region Unsafe
The Friday prayer leader of Zahedan further said: If there is no security in the region, traders and investors who can create employment opportunities for the people will not feel safe and will leave the region. It is possible that some people want this situation to develop in the province, but religious scholars, tribal elders, and different segments of society must remain vigilant and alert.
He added: My request to the tribal elders and influential figures in society is that they should think about the pleasure of God and the satisfaction of the people, sit together to find a solution to the problem of kidnapping for ransom, and ensure that each person protects and safeguards his own area. They must not allow kidnappers to devastate the region and bring disgrace upon ethnic groups, tribes, and their ancestors.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Mawlana Abdol-Hamid referred to the death of Haji Abdolghafour Iran-Nejad, who had served as a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly in several terms representing the Chabahar electoral zone, and prayed to God Almighty to grant him mercy and forgiveness.
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