Iranian Imam Assassinated After Friday Prayers

Mohammad Sabahi, the Friday prayer leader of Kazeroun in southern Iran, was shot and killed shortly after leading prayers on Friday, marking the third such murder of a cleric in the town since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Sabahi was rushed to Namazi Hospital in Shiraz but succumbed to his injuries despite medical efforts. The Kazeroun governor, Mohammad Ali Bekhrad, indicated that the shooting might be linked to personal conflict rather than terrorism, although investigations are ongoing. Conflicting reports emerged regarding the assailant, with some claiming he was a war veteran, which was later denied by judicial sources who described him as having a criminal record. Murders of clerics are not uncommon in Iran, with the recent history showing a pattern of violence against religious leaders. The situation continues to unfold as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.