The outstanding Iranian Sunni leader, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid has criticized hanging of a group of Kurd Sunnis in Iran, and warned about the ‘negative consequences’ of such executions.
The website of the office of Shaikh Abdol-Hamid reported, the Friday Imam of Sunnis in Zahedan reacted on Friday 5th August, 2016 to mass execution of some Sunni youth and said, “As far as hanging of some Kurdish Sunni compatriots in Rajaee-Shahr prison is concerned, there are some discussable issues.”
“According to the juridical views, apart from the killer, the rest who were behind the scene giving directions should be imprisoned and punished under the Ta’zir law. These people should be freed if they repented and purified themselves,” he underlined.
The prominent Islamic scholar of Sunnis in Iran criticized the hanging incident and said, “Our complaint is that in these executions the critical and sensitive situation of the region had not been observed. The ongoing condition is very sensitive and the enemies always seek to misuse and create instability and divide. The authorities must have shown foresight and broad-mindedness.”
“Still we urge on the observance of those issues and show benevolence for those who did not take part in the killing of anyone directly. Islam is the religion of justice, mercy and benevolence. The prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, and Sayyidana Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, used to forgive captives and internees,” he underlined.
Trial of suspects should be in just & open court
Khateeb of Sunnis in Zahedan called on trial of the alleged men in ‘open and just courts’ and said, “It is possible to see any individual or group in any community involved in extremism; as we see extremists in both Shia and Sunni communities in Iran. We believe such people, if they are arrested, can be given capital punishment only if they have killed someone directly and their crime was proved in open and just courts. This is the order of the constitution of Iran which is a national contract accepted by all Iranians including Shias and Sunnis.”
“We do not discriminate between Shia and Sunni Muslims in such cases; Islam and humanity have importance for us,” he urged.
Islamic Shari’ah urges on the decrease of executions
Pointing out to the punishment of death in Islamic point of view, the rector of Darululoom Zahedan, the biggest Islamic learning center of Sunnis in Iran, said, “According to the juridical viewpoint of Ahl-us-Sunnah regarding the issue of execution, precaution is must. Hanging has many negative consequences. By hanging a person, apart from his children and family members who would suffer from lots of problems, enmity will grow up in hearts, too.”
“As the death penalty has many unpleasant consequences, the Islamic Shari’ah law has always struggled to decrease this punishment to the least point. According to Islam, the person who kills somebody deliberately or robs with killing anyone can be killed as retaliation. Also if a married person commits adultery should be stoned if four witnesses depose in the court,” the Hadith professor at Darululoom Zahedan further said.
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid alluded to the criminal law in the Iranian constitution and said, “In the criminal law some regulations are based on the definite Islamic terms, there is no second idea about them. But the regulations which have been formatted on the basis of the views of experts and Ulama can be revised, because the viewpoints which are based on ijtihad can be changed by another ijtihad and opinion.”
“As an Iranian citizen, I believe some parts of the criminal law of the country should be revised and executions should be minimized and decreased. The prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, and Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, are examples for bot Shias and Sunnis. Look at their behavior with hostages in battles; Ali bin Abi-Talib ordered his men to fight only with those who fight and take arms. If anyone ran or surrendered, should not be killed. The wounded were not killed.”
“Even he amazingly ordered the hostages from Khawarij to be freed. Then he discussed and debated with them; many of them repented and realized they were wrong,” Shaikh Abdol-Hamid urged.
Concluding his points, Khateeb of Sunnis called on Iranian Sunnis, the families of the executed youth and all who have been aggrieved to control their feelings and calmness.
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