The official Iranian television (Khuzestan Channel) announced the arrest of 10 individuals from Arab Ahwaz. According to Iranian television, the reason for their arrest is promoting Sunni Salafi (Wahhabi) ideology.
In Ahwaz, Iranian authorities work to prevent the spread of Sunni Salafi thought and also prohibit the construction of mosques for Sunni worship.
In the past three decades, Ahwaz has witnessed a widespread growth of the Sunni sect among Ahwazi Shia, especially among the youth. This development has alarmed the Iranian regime, which adopts Shia Islam as the official religion of the country. It also poses a significant threat to national security, particularly in Ahwaz, where the people are calling for independence from Iran.
The Iranian regime has issued prison sentences for anyone promoting Sunni Salafi thought in Ahwaz. In recent years, Iranian security forces have imprisoned hundreds of Sunnis.
