Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naqshbandi, the Friday prayer leader of Rask and a prominent Sunni scholar in Balochistan, was arrested on August 20, 2023, by security forces due to his critical stance against the government.
Despite his advanced age and health issues, he remains imprisoned in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad. On the day of his arrest, security forces used a deceptive phone call regarding fuel quotas to lure him to Chabahar.
While en route with his son, he was detained and subjected to humiliation. Reports of his torture and deteriorating condition in custody sparked public outrage in Balochistan, with demands for transparency from judicial authorities.Under public pressure, his family was allowed limited contact and visits with him on a few occasions.
The Islamic Republic has intensified its crackdown on protesting Baloch citizens and critical religious figures, aiming to silence dissent and exert additional pressure on Molavi Abdolhamid and the Makki Mosque movement, which have been central to national demands and protests. However, these efforts have faced widespread public resistance.
