Persecution of Sunnis moves ahead in Iran

Ali Rajab

The Iranian regime persecutes minorities and opposition figures with the aim of nipping any potential revolt against the mullahs in its bud.

The execution of Sunni Iranians reveals, meanwhile, the phony nature of Iranian calls for unity between Shiites and Sunnis.

Judicial authorities in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan announced the execution of three Sunnis on January 3.

The three men were moved to a special prison cell a day earlier in preparation for their execution. This came before activists in Baluchestan warned against taking the three men’s lives.

On December 31, the Iranian regime executed another three Sunnis after accusing them of breaking the law in northeastern Iran. Before their execution, the three were imprisoned for five years, during which they were subjected to torture.

A senior police officer appeared on Iranian TV a few months ago and threatened to break the arms of those staging demonstrations on the streets.

“I will break their arms if I catch them in the act of protesting on the streets,” he said.

He added that prisoners in Iranian jails have only one right, namely the right to live.

A Sunni leader, meanwhile, sent a message to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in which he complained against considering Iranian Sunnis second rate citizens 42 years after the Iranian revolution.

He said Iranian Sunnis are always kept away from top positions in the Iranian government.