Continued Security Pressure on Critical Sunni Scholars
Mamosta Ayat Gholami, the former imam of the “Mohammad al-Mustafa” mosque in Kermanshah and a critic of the government, who was previously released on heavy bail, opposes the control of mosques by security agencies.
Iran Human Rights Center, Tuesday, May 20, 2025 – Mamosta Ayat Gholami, a Sunni cleric and former imam of the Mohammad al-Mustafa mosque in Kermanshah, has been summoned again to the city’s Special Clergy Court. According to the issued summons, he must appear in court on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, to address a case filed against him.
Previous Arrest and 700 Million Toman Bail
This new summons comes after Mamosta Ayat Gholami was previously detained on April 22, 2025, following an appearance at the same court. He was released temporarily after a few days on a 700 million toman bail. No clear information has been released regarding the official charges against him, but it appears that the primary reasons for his judicial pursuit are his outspoken criticism of government policies and his resistance to state control over religious affairs.
Prohibition of Religious Activities by Security Institutions
According to informed sources, since July of the previous year, Mamosta Ayat Gholami has been banned by security institutions from leading prayers or holding religious classes at the Mohammad al-Mustafa mosque. This prohibition was imposed without a judicial order and through extralegal pressures, and it continues to this day.
In a protest video circulated on social media, Mamosta Ayat Gholami stated that security institutions attempted to force him to cooperate in conducting religious classes and sessions under the direct supervision of government-approved instructors. He described this as a blatant violation of the independence of religious scholars and an unprecedented interference in religious affairs.
A Resounding Voice Against Oppressive Policies in Border Regions
Mamosta Ayat Gholami is among the clerics who, in recent months, have publicly addressed the dire living conditions of porters (kulbars), fuel carriers, and systemic poverty in Sunni-majority regions of western Iran. He has repeatedly condemned the repressive policies of military forces at the borders and the issuance of death sentences for Sunni religious activists.
One of his controversial stances was his protest against the execution of Mamosta Mohammad Khezrnejad, a prominent Sunni cleric, which was met with silence and disregard by state media but garnered significant attention on social media.
Targeting Clerics: An Effort to Silence Religious Dissent
The summoning and judicial pursuit of Mamosta Ayat Gholami is part of the systematic policies of the ruling dictatorship to control and silence independent Sunni scholars. In recent years, dozens of Sunni clerics in the provinces of Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Golestan have faced summons, arrests, and even dismissal from religious positions.
Analysts believe that security institutions, particularly the Ministry of Intelligence and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, are striving to impose full control over mosques and religious centers by restricting Sunni scholars. This policy is designed to weaken the social and ideological bases of Sunni communities and prevent the formation of religiously motivated protest movements.
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