Iranian Cleric Mohammad Sabahi Shot Dead in Kazerun
Mohammad Sabahi, the representative of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Friday Imam of Kazerun, was shot dead on October 25, 2024, shortly after leading Friday prayers. The incident marks a tragic continuation of violence against religious leaders in the region, as Sabahi is the third Friday Imam to be killed in Kazerun since the Iranian revolution in the late 1970s. The assailant, identified as a veteran of Iran’s war, shot Sabahi in the head, leading to his death despite undergoing surgery. Local authorities have ruled out terrorist motives, suggesting a possible personal dispute.
Sabahi, born in April 1973 in Qaderabad, Fars Province, became a prominent figure in Kazerun after his appointment as Friday Imam in November 2019, succeeding Imam Mohammad Khorsand, who was stabbed to death that same year. His religious education began at a local seminary and advanced at the prestigious Qom Seminary, where he studied under notable Shiite scholars. Over the years, he held various religious and administrative positions, contributing significantly to the community through charitable initiatives and leadership.
The governor of Kazerun, Mohammad Ali Bokhrad Kazeroon, expressed shock over the incident, emphasizing the need to investigate the motives behind this tragic act. The deaths of previous Imams in Kazerun, including Abdolrahim Rahman Daneshjoo in 1981, have raised concerns about the safety of religious leaders in Iran.
