The most influential Iranian Sunni leader strongly condemned Israel’s invasion of Gaza. Calling on all Muslim countries to unite against Israeli crimes, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid considered the US and other supporters and allies of Israel as accomplice in the massacre of Palestinians and the destruction of Gaza.
He was talking to tens of thousands of people in the Grand Musalla of Zahedan before the Friday prayers on November 10, 2023.
Israel wants the complete destruction of Gaza and the displacement of all its residents
Israel’s crime in Gaza hurts the conscience of all human beings
The Iranian top Sunni cleric referred to the Israel’s brutal attacks on Gaza and said: “Life in this world is a test. Allah Almighty wants to see how we behave and act when we face such tests and circumstances. As Muslims, We have a duty to act in a way that we succeed. We must always please Allah the Almighty. What are happening in the world are divine tests. Islam inspires us that we should not ignore what happens to people. As human beings, we have a big duty in the face of all events; we should not be indifferent when people are in trouble.”
The Friday prayer leader of Sunnis in Zahedan continued his speech by saying: “Israel’s oppression of Gaza has saddened and affected people all over the globe. The crime and tragedy in Gaza hurts feelings of all people; even moderate Jews are upset, protest, demonstrate, and believe that negotiation is the solution to the problem. Western and European governments support Israel and pave the way for the extremist prime minister and the extremist Israeli government to commit such crimes.”
“Around the world, nearly all nations protest against Israeli crimes. Gaza, with more than two million populations, is being fully destroyed and its civilians are being killed. Israel intentionally destroys infrastructures and roads in Gaza. What is happening in Gaza is almost unprecedented in the history. No wise people will accept such a big crime and a great injustice. No religion or law allows the massacre of women and children and the destruction of hospitals and places of worship. If the Jews and Israelis have sustained casualties and many among them have lost their people, Israel has inflicted several times more losses on the people of Gaza, “the president of Darululoom Zahedan said in his Friday sermons.
“A war against an armed or a militant group is something else but on the Palestinian side, innocent and defenseless people including women and children are being killed, hospitals, mosques, churches, and places of worship are being destroyed. The holy Quran has warned about these issues. The Holy Qur’an has legitimated the Jihad to prevent such destructions. Places of worship, hospitals, women, and children must not be attacked in wars. More than 10,000 people have been martyred in Israel’s attacks on Gaza. Nearly 5 thousand people are children and about 3 thousand are women. The majority people of Gaza are civilians but Israel targets all people equally without any consideration and differentiation between them, “said the Iranian top Sunni scholar of Zahedan.
“No divine religion and no human law organization allow anyone to kill women and children or destroy synagogues and hospitals, “he believed.
“America and all the supporters of Israel are complicit in the killing of innocents and in destruction of Gaza. America supports Israel strongly and prevents countries of the region from interfering in this issue via diplomatic means. America and all those who support Israel are complicit in this massacre and destruction; they must stop such destructions. Despite requests of the states and demonstrations in the world to stop war in Gaza, Israel does not want a ceasefire. Israel continues to wreak havoc and to destroy Gaza and make its residents homeless and displaced, “Shaikh Abdol-Hamid further said.
The president of Darululoom Zahedan added: “We strongly condemn Israel’s crime and call on all Muslim countries to join together against Israeli crimes. The genocide and destruction in Gaza must end. Unfortunately, the UN has not taken any positive action to stop this war. We do not know why the UN does not stop the extreme Israeli government from committing crimes!”
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid questioned: “Why do not the UN and Western governments challenge Israel? Are not the defenseless people of Gaza who are massacred human beings?”
“What we can do for the people of Gaza and for other oppressed people in the world is to pray for them. Oppression, whether it is against Muslims or non-Muslims, is condemned and we must pray for the oppressed people regardless of their faith and creed, “Shaikh Abdol-Hamid further.
Lies and accusations will not solve problems
Instead of slandering and lying against critics, listen to them
Referring to the slanders which have been released by some dependent news agencies and affecting organizations affiliated to government organs against personnel of Grand Makki mosque, the Iranian top Sunni leader said: “Recently, some dependent news agencies and affecting organizations affiliated to government organs have resorted to lies and slander. We wonder how they dare to slander the critics, and justice and freedom-seekers, openly! Has Islam allowed Muslims to lie and accuse others? Which religion allows lying against opponents and slandering them? Those who commit such things should doubt about their faith. We do not allow ourselves to slander others. We do not accept lies against anyone. We believe only in honesty and trustworthiness. We must not move beyond the truth.”
“Apparently, some want to kick out the critics from the scene, while this is not the solution; critics and opponents should be heard. We do not say that we do not have weaknesses; if someone criticizes us honestly, we welcome him\her. We want to improve our shortcomings. Everyone should reform him\herself by hearing the opponents. Do not slander and do not resort to lies. It is forbidden to resort to slander and lie. Such accusations lead to a dead end, “said Imam of the Grand Makki Mosque of Zahedan.
The legal freedoms of journalists and social activists must ensure
The eminent Iranian Sunni scholar criticized the intense pressures on media activists and said: “All over the world, the media reflects the facts and demands of the people to the officials and transfers the opinion of the officials to the people. Media freedom is the most basic freedom of any society and nation. Media and journalists should have freedom. Media activists should not be under pressure.”
“Unfortunately, in our country, journalists and media activists are summoned or arrested for minor cases. This is not a good performance. The media should not only reflect the opinions of officials, but it must have complete freedom to reflect the facts, “he added more.
Sunni Community does not have any media
Do not arrest photographers and journalists
The most outstanding Iranian Sunni scholar of Balochistan referred to the severe restrictions against social activists and criticized the arrest of reporters one after another. He said: “Unfortunately, the Sunni Community of Iran does not have any media. In our country, political parties do not have satellite and television networks, while all over the world, parties and religious communities have such freedoms. However, Sunnis of Iran do not have this freedom.”
“Our website (Sunni Online, the official website of Sunni community in Iran) was filtered from the very beginning. The website belonging to my office was also filtered as soon as it was launched without regarding what was going on in the website. Now photographers and media activists are detained. We strongly denounce such behaviors. Freedom of speech should not be limited, “said the Friday Imam of Zahedan.
In his last points, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid addressed the authorities and demanded the release of journalists, saying: “As Iranians, we should have freedom of speech and pen. We request you to free journalists and media activists. They must be able to reflect the facts; this is in the interest of both the sovereignty, and the nation.”
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