Friday Prayers Leader Seriously Wounded in Shooting in Southern Iran

Unidentified Gunman Targets Cleric in Khuzestan Province

Suspect Reportedly Detained; Motive Unknown

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) —A prominent Friday prayers leader was seriously wounded in a shooting in southern Iran on Friday, state media reported.

The shooting took place in the city of Mahshahr in Khuzestan province, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The victim, identified as Ayatollah Abbas Mousavi, was leading Friday prayers at the time of the attack.

Tasnim reported that the suspect was a member of a "takfiri" group. Takfiri is a term often used to describe extremist Sunni Muslim groups that consider other Muslims to be non-believers. The motive for the attack is still under investigation.

Mousavi was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. His current condition is unknown.

The shooting comes amid heightened tensions in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code.

Amini's death has sparked widespread protests across Iran, with demonstrators calling for an end to the country's mandatory hijab law and other restrictions on personal freedoms. The protests have been met with a violent crackdown by security forces, resulting in dozens of deaths and hundreds of arrests.

The shooting of Mousavi is likely to further inflame tensions in Iran. It is unclear if the attack was related to the ongoing protests, but it has raised concerns about the potential for further violence and instability in the country.