Amid heavy siege of Zahedan’s grand Musalla before offering the Friday prayers, the most influential Iranian Sunni leader refused suppressing people, and urged on the role of them in maintenance of security.
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid was talking to tens of thousands of people in Zahedan’s biggest Friday gathering on October 6, 2023.
He addressed the officials: “You cannot establish security of this region without people’s cooperation and support. The direct and effective role of the local (Baloch) people in establishing and maintaining the security in the region cannot be denied; the officials know it very well.”
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid believed that in order to maintain security and resolve the problems, officials should not resort to force rather must sit with people, talk to them, and surrender to their wells.
Imposing force is a failed policy; “caring people”, and “listening to their words” are the solutions
He insisted on popular and political ways in solving the internal problems, saying: “Resorting to force will not solve the problems; negotiation, sitting with people and hearing their voice are ways to deal with problems. This province is a tribal region; big and small tribes live here together, but a larger clan has never been able to overcome a smaller clan and ultimately the larger clan had forced to resort to negotiation and to satisfy the smaller tribe.”
“I would like to make it clear that security of the region is impossible by use of the force. Throughout history, those in power have not been able to secure this region (Balochistan) without people’s support. We all, including scholars and social elders, have been working to maintain the security of the region; these efforts have been helping to maintain region’s security. Neither the armed forces nor any government can keep security of this province without people’s cooperation. Perhaps the officials of Tehran do not know this fact, but provincial authorities know it very well,” the Friday prayer leader of Sunnis in Zahedan made it clear.
He referred to the anniversary of Zahedan’s Bloody Friday and said: “The last week was the anniversary of Zahedan’s martyrs of the Bloody Friday tragedy; we told that there was no any special program in this regard. The people have been waiting for over a year keeping the security, hoping trial of perpetrators behind the attack, and this is worth. People maintain security of the region, and they are not at war with anyone. Officials should tolerate them when they raise their voices. People do not want their city and their province to be insecure.”
“As a compassionate to provincial and national authorities, I would like to say that the officials should always be with people and get nation’s constant. Listen to the voice of the people. Those who say that these people are affiliated with the United States, the UK and Israel, are lying. People protest because they are hungry and have problems. Sit with people, listen to their words, care them and address their problems and demands. Iranians belong to this land and deserve sympathy. People have voted for you, and they are your benefactors. A government that is not with people has no value,” the eminent Iranian Baloch scholar addressed the officials.
The issue of Armita Garavand should be investigated “accurately and impartially”
Iran’s Sunni leader alluded to the case of a 16 years old girl in Tehran who fainted in the subway suspiciously, and said: “Recently, a teenager schoolgirl, Armita Garavand, has been anesthetized in Tehran’s Metro and has been hospitalized in a state of coma. This incident has brought a big concern among Iranians and all over the world. It is better to investigate the case impartially and accurately. Only justice can make peace in the country and in the whole world.”
“The implementation of justice is the only way to maintain country’s security and power. Even though, if the child of the holy Prophet, peace be upon him, child of an Imam or the child of one of the authorities makes a mistake, s/he should be punished; this is the teaching of the holy Qur’an. The holy Qur’an has not exempted anyone in the implementation of justice. Anyone should be accountable for his\her performance,” Shaikh Abdol-Hamid urged on the implementation of justice.
“If an official committed a crime, he must be tried and punished without regard to his position. If the Bloody Friday murderers were punished at any positon they were, people would calm down,” he believed.
Officials must put education first priority
The most outstanding Iranian Sunni scholar pointed out to the problems regarding the education in the country, and said: “The Minister of Education has announced the shortage of 200,000 teachers in the country and has added that 450,000 students have no teachers. This problem has concerned all of us. Education and edification is the first priority of developed countries and nations. Ladder of education is the basis of development. If you do not have proper planning in education and training, this deficiency is irreparable. I wonder why they did not realize such a massive shortage.”
“Officials of the department of education should monitor and control the state of education. How the Ministry of Education will hire such a big number of teachers in a short time?! Because, they must hire experienced people not weak and incapable ones,” he said.
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid referred to the problems in universities, and said: “The people of Iran have concerns about universities. Many experienced professors and veteran lecturers have been fired because they criticized. This displacement has created discord among people, as universities and colleges are vital and have scientific basis. We have everything from universities and education and elite educators. If you hit the training instead of developing it, we will lose everything. Education and training should be the first priority.”
“Unfortunately, the protests of teachers have not been taking into consideration. The critic must be tolerated. Teachers have huge concerns about the amount and payment of salaries and still their problems are not solved. You (authorities) pay special attentions to the teachers and professors of the university so that they attend the classroom with the peace of mind. Many teachers have been fired and some are imprisoned,” the Friday Khateeb of Zahedan further defended the rights of teachers and academics.
The critic must be tolerated
During his Friday sermons of Zahedan, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said: “In all countries, including in European countries, many teachers, and university professors criticize and they are tolerated by their authorities. A critic should be tolerated. Listen to criticism when it is useful for the country. Deal with the problems of all classes, including labors, retirees and other classes that struggle with economic problems. People should not be ashamed before their children and family members due to financial issues.”
Refusing the nation’s capacities in different categories is the reason for the problems in education
Imam of the Grand Makki Mosque of Zahedan noted: “The lack of use of the nation’s capacities in education is the root of problems. Unfortunately, officials do not use the capacities of the Iranian people from different backgrounds in posts; this has created problems. The elite, deserved and capable people should be appointed and engaged.”
“Many have complaints that only one thought has taken the reins of affairs in all branches of the government. This policy has failed. Only a policy can be effective that gives chances to the people of different tendencies, regardless of their faith, sect, or orientation,” he said.
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid concluded his points: “We must think of humanity, as the holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, thought us to live as human beings. The holy prophet did not make difference among people. The holy prophet said that Salman Farsi is from us. Bilal Habashi was a slave, but the religion of Islam values human beings, puts Bilal to such a place that today he is the proud of all the blacks of the world.”
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