Tribal Leaders, Scholars Condemn Assassination of Iranian Sunni Cleric
TEHARN - Tribal leaders,
religious scholars, elites, and citizens of Sistan and Baluchestan Province have condemned the assassination of Molavi Yousef Gorgij, a prominent Sunni prayer leader.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the signatories demanded that perpetrators of the “cowardly assassination” be swiftly identified and brought to justice according to the law.
The statement emphasized the need for heightened awareness and vigilance, warning that the assassination represents an attempt to undermine stability in the strategically important southeastern province.
“Today we must be more vigilant than ever before,” the statement read.
“The enemy’s goal in creating insecurity and assassinating great figures and influential personalities is to create division among the people, weaken unity, and disrupt the province’s tranquility.”
The signatories said any form of insecurity and discord would hinder the progress and development of Sistan and Baluchestan, and that enemies of the people aim to prevent the province’s advancement by creating chaos.
“We believe that with vigilance, unity, and empathy, we must thwart these plots.”
According to Zahedan Governor
(Continued on Page 7)
Jamshid Rokhshani Nasab, Molavi Gorgij was assassinated outside his residence on Monday.
Speaking to IRNA, the governor confirmed that unidentified gunmen carried out the attack but provided no further details about the circumstances.
The governor said Gorgij had been actively involved in efforts to combat divisive elements and Israel-affiliated mercenaries operating in the region.
In a separate statement, the Quds Base of the Ground Forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) condemned the assassination, describing Gorgij as a martyr who was killed following a series of defeats suffered by terrorist groups in the province.
The IRGC statement said several terrorist cells had recently been dismantled in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, and characterized the assassination as retaliation by “traitorous terrorist groups.”
“Gorgij was an influential figure in fostering unity between Shia and Sunni Muslims in the province and a widely respected cleric,” the statement said, adding that he was killed by “enemies of unity.”
The assassination comes just several days after another religious figure, Kurdish cleric Mamosta Mohammad Nozhati, was assassinated in Iran’s northwestern province of West Azerbaijan.
No group or individual has claimed responsibility for either assassination, and investigations into both killings are ongoing.
Sistan and Baluchestan Province, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, has historically faced security challenges, including occasional attacks by terrorist groups.
The province has a significant Sunni population, and religious leaders like Gorgij have played important roles in promoting interfaith harmony between Sunni and Shia communities.