TEHRAN -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday denounced the abduction and assassination of renowned Sunni cleric Molavi Abdulvahed Rigi in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, stating that those responsible for the heinous crime have actually served parties opposed to the prosperity and unity of all Iranian ethnic groups.
Ayatollah Khamenei, in a message, expressed deep condolences over the tragic incident, calling upon relevant authorities to promptly and seriously prosecute those involved, and bring them to justice.
The kidnapping and the martyrdom of “this benevolent and brave scholar filled my heart with great sorrow. The bandits who committed the crime are dishonored mercenaries of enemies opposed to the prosperity of our Baluch compatriots and the unity of the entire Iranian nation,” the Leader wrote.
“Relevant institutions are duty-bound to rapidly and seriously prosecute and punish the criminals,” he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei also commiserated with the Sunni cleric’s family and all the population of Sistan and Baluchestan province, especially the residents of Khash and Iranshahr cities, and prayed for God’s mercy upon all Iranians.
The Sunni cleric was the Friday prayers leader of Imam Hussein Mosque in Khash, in the southeastern province. He was also a seminary teacher.
Mehdi Shamsabadi, the province’s prosecutor, said the cleric was present at his mosque on Thursday, but unknown individuals called him from the rear door, making him sit in a car that had no license plate.
Shamsabadi said local forces had been mobilized to find the whereabouts of the cleric since Thursday, but his dead body was found on the roadside in Khash County. The cleric was hit by three bullets, said the prosecutor, adding the bullets came out of his head.
Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said Tuesday it identified and arrested three of the main terrorist elements behind the murder of the prominent cleric.
In a statement, the ministry said the arrest took place following “round-the-clock efforts and a series of intelligence measures and observations” in Sistan and Baluchestan, and with the “operational cooperation of the law enforcement command” in the province.
“These terrorist elements were planning to abscond from the country after the assassination of the martyr when they were arrested” by the intelligence forces, the statement noted.
The ministry said further information regarding the case will subsequently be released.