Officials should See Nation, Listen to them

The most influential Iranian Sunni leader called on the authorities to recognize the demands and problems of Iranians and focus on resolving their issues.
The official website of Shaikh Abdol-Hamid quoted a part of his speech in the gathering for Friday prayers on 5th Jan. 2018 in Zahedan where he said: “The officials are busy with politics and big activities, but Ulama and Friday imams know about the problems of people well as they are in touch with them directly. Therefore we urged repeatedly that people want ‘changes’,”
“There are many policies and regulations in different sectors and affairs which should be changed. Many rules have been experienced which are not respondent to the needs of society; they should be modified. Every law that cannot resolve the problems of people and it is an obstacle should be changed,” he added more.
President of Darululoom Zahedan urged on “listening to people” and said: “It is important to see people and listen to their demands. Iranian nation has ousted the Shah regime in 1979; it is our benefactor as the Supreme Leader repeatedly said. The voice of the benefactor should be heard.”
“People [of Iran] have been suffering from low income and massive economic pressures. Poverty and unemployment have spread largely. The authorities should recognize the problems and remain with people in all conditions,” he added more.
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid further said: “The officials should focus and pay full attention to the people’s ongoing gatherings and street demonstrations listening to them. Pressures should be removed as much as Islam and the constitution give people freedom.”
“There is no option but to change some policies and regulations of the country in order to resolve people’s problems and get their satisfaction,” he underlined.
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid addressed Iranian people and said: “Dear people present their demands and problems, but they should keep this point in mind that Iran has enemies who just want to get their benefits and implement their policies. The protests should not be violent and public assets should not be damaged.”

Iranian Sunnis have been asking ‘removal of discrimination’ for 40 years
The eminent Islamic scholar pointed out to the demands of the Iranian Sunni community and said: “The Iranian Sunnis, who have been present actively in all national moments and fields, have some demands. They have been demanding removal of discrimination for 40 years.”
“We are happy to see religious bias has been decreased among Iranian nation; now Shia and Sunni citizens know each other well. Maybe there is bigotry in suburb regions of the country, but in metropolises and big cities bigotry has been decreased widely,” he said.
The Iranian Sunni leader said: “It is regrettable that despite continuous follow-ups and sending letters about a small prayer-house in a metropolis officials have not paid any attention. In some cities Sunnis are under pressure and prayer-houses are being closed.”
“There are cities where both Shias and Sunnis live together, but the officials are not ready to appoint any city governor or director of any office from Sunnis. While Sunnis are in majority in some of these cities,” he added more.
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid called on the officials to be ‘serious’ in resolving the problems of people. “The nation voted to Mr. Rouhani because they thought he can bring changes,” he said.
The prominent scholar clearly said: “The government should resist personal and partial pressures in some departments. In some offices people who do not have enough competence appoint imams for Sunni mosques.”
“I repeatedly told Shia and Sunni Ulama to change their minds and thoughts. They should not remain 40 years back from the world. They should move on in accordance with the needs and circumstances of the time, otherwise people will leave us,” Shaikh Abdol-Hamid underlined.
At the end of his speech, Khateeb of Sunnis in Zahedan criticized some provincial departments in Sistan-Baluchistan which have shown their incompetence in resolving people’s problems.
He said: “Despite clear orders from the capital, some offices do not want to resolve people’s problems about ‘blocked identity documents’.”