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Molavi Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi, the spiritual leader of Iran's Sunnis, said in a Friday, December 16, 2022 sermon in Zahedan, the capital of the Sunni-majority Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan, that the prisoners from the recent anti-regime protests should be released. He said that the verdict of moharebeh (rebellion against God) should not warrant the death penalty, which should be reserved only for people who have killed others. He called for the release of Dr. Hamid Ghare-Hassanlou, a 53-year-old radiologist sentenced to death for moharabeh in light of accusations that he killed a Basij member (see Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1672). For more about Molavi Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi, see MEMRI TV Clips Nos. 9978 and 7879, as well as MEMRI Daily Brief No. 428.
Molavi Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi: "This nation is experiencing hardships, so do not blame them [for protesting]. If you want, I can swear that they are experiencing hardships. People want freedom – freedom of speech, freedom to write, freedom of assembly, and freedom of thought.
[...]
"I humbly suggest that you compassionately release the prisoners of this recent uprising and these protests."
Man: "Say: 'Allah Akbar!'"
Crowd: "Allah Akbar!"
Ismaeelzahi: "Do not be hard on them, since they are mostly very young, even children. Free these young boys and girls. Do not accuse them of rebellion against God. Even if you [convict] someone of rebellion against God, it should not carry a sentence of execution. The youth should not be killed, especially those young protesters who did not kill anyone. The best interpretation of the [Quranic] verse is that a person who killed another could be ultimately killed, [but] not someone who did not kill anyone. After all, we cannot take a life of a person who did not kill anyone.
[...]
"The entire medical community is worried about Dr. Hamid Ghare-Hassanlou. Apparently, he was found guilty of rebellion against God and sentenced to death. He is one of several on trial for the murder of a Basij member. We all request that you free this doctor."
Man: "Say: 'Allah Akbar!'"
Crowd: "Allah Akbar!"
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