Iran detains sect leader who claimed to be Jesus Christ

Iranian law enforcement authorities in Yazd province have detained the founder of a sect who claimed to be Jesus Christ.

This was reported by the provincial prosecutor, Mehdi Hasanpour.

"The leader of the sect in the province initially claimed to be chosen by God, and later declared his own divinity, referring to Jesus Christ, and, by instilling superstitions, imposed unusual ascetic practices and exploited his followers for personal gain," Mehr news agency quoted him as saying.

According to the prosecutor, members of the sect burned the Quran, desecrated sacred sites, insulted Muslim religious figures, and also recited prayers for Israel's victory over Iran. He noted that during the investigation, three individuals who played key roles in the sect were detained.