Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol Hamid, during today’s Friday prayer on September 27, 2024, in Zahedan, criticized the lack of justice in the country and the ongoing discrimination against Sunnis and women. He also referenced the tragic events of Zahedan’s “Bloody Friday” and the recent accident at the Tabas mine, calling for these incidents to be thoroughly investigated.
If “Justice” is upheld, “Peace, Security,” and “Public satisfaction” will follow
According to the official website of the Office of the Sunni Friday Imam of Zahedan, Mawlana Abdol Hamid began his speech by emphasizing the vital importance of justice in governance, stating: “When there is no justice, nothing else matters. If justice is neither present nor observed, no matter what name is given to that system—whether in the name of the prophets, God, Islam, or democracy—it has no value.”
He added, “The key point is that even if everything is lost, as long as justice remains as the central pillar, everything will return. Tranquility will come, security will be established, the people’s satisfaction will be achieved, and the pleasure of Allah the Almighty will be attained.”
Parliament’s decision regarding Abdolkarim Hosseinzadeh is “unbelievable”; The President must resolve this issue
The Sunni Friday Imam of Zahedan further addressed the appointment of a Sunni deputy by the president, saying: “Recently, the honorable president appointed a Sunni deputy. After 45 or 46 years of unfulfilled demands regarding the elimination of discrimination and inequality, we were pleased that this taboo was finally broken. However, an astonishing event occurred in Parliament that is hard to believe.”
He referred to the opposition of certain members of Parliament to the resignation of Abdolkarim Hosseinzadeh from his parliamentary seat to assume the role of vice president. He stated: “The parliamentarians rejected Mr. Hosseinzadeh’s resignation for this position. Has this ever happened before in the Islamic Republic for others? Currently, there are several representatives who have been appointed to government positions. Was a vote taken for them as well, or was this decision uniquely applied to this Sunni representative? The people cannot accept this as an act of fairness.”
Mawlana Abdol Hamid urged the president to address this issue, stating that it is a collective demand.
Women’s rights must be respected
The capable and qualified should not face discrimination
Mawlana Abdol Hamid also spoke on women’s rights, stressing: “The dignity of Sunni citizens and women in the country will only be upheld when they enjoy equal rights alongside other Iranian citizens.”
He added: “When women do not receive equal rights, it results in their being demeaned. The women who have now stepped forward are fighting for their rights. They demand that their rights be respected and strive to preserve the dignity of themselves and other women.”
He emphasized: “There are capable and talented women who, in many cases, possess greater abilities than men. Their rights must be recognized. Neither the competent nor the Sunni and Shia citizens of the country should face discrimination. Unfortunately, qualified and capable individuals are rejected in recruitment, and weaker individuals are brought to power, which leads to dissatisfaction among the people.”
The Iranian people do not accept discrimination or injustice against anyone
“Discrimination” leads to “Humiliation”
Mawlana Abdol Hamid stated: “The Iranian people do not accept discrimination and injustice against anyone. The demands of women, ethnic groups, and religious communities are the demands of the entire Iranian nation. All Iranians, regardless of their religious or sectarian leanings, should stand together to ensure that justice is served equally to all ethnicities and groups.”
He added: “When people from various ethnicities and sects stand together, they are better able to manage affairs and ensure justice. However, when a particular group or sect is subjected to discrimination, or when women and other ethnic or religious groups are discriminated against, it leads to their humiliation.”
Mismanagement is evident in the Tabas mine incident; we express our sympathy with the families of the victims
Mawlana Abdol Hamid, in another part of his Friday prayer speech in Zahedan, referred to the recent tragedy at the Tabas mine. He stated: “The Tabas mine incident resulted in heavy casualties, and unfortunately, mismanagement was clearly evident. Companies pursuing their own interests have been exploiting workers, disregarding their rights and safety.”
He added: “Regrettably, financial corruption is rampant in the country. Those tasked with overseeing safety measures and workers’ rights often engage in collusion. This all stems from weak management. Therefore, the president of the 14th government bears a heavy responsibility. He made promises to the people, including the assurance that justice and fairness would be observed. This was a monumental pledge, and stronger management is necessary to safeguard the rights of miners and other vulnerable sectors of society.”
Mawlana Abdol Hamid expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of the Tabas mine disaster, stating: “All of Iran is saddened by this incident. The families of these workers have lost their breadwinners and are in deep mourning, with immense pain in their hearts, which is understandable. We stand in solidarity with these families, offering our condolences and praying for mercy and forgiveness for the deceased.”
The “Bloody Friday” massacre in Zahedan was a “clear injustice” and the “result of years of discrimination”
The Sunni Friday Imam of Zahedan continued by acknowledging the second anniversary of the “Bloody Friday” incident in Zahedan, saying: “Some may think that ‘Bloody Friday’ was a minor issue, but in fact, it was a major catastrophe and one of the most blatant acts of injustice, unparalleled in the world. In this event, more than one hundred people were killed, and over three hundred were injured. Many were paralyzed, some lost limbs, and others were left blind. These shootings occurred where sixty to seventy thousand people had gathered for prayer.”
He emphasized: “This tragedy was the outcome of years of discrimination, which had been pursued through various channels to ensure justice and fairness. If the armed forces and decision-making bodies had included citizens from all backgrounds, such an event would not have been possible.”
No Sunni representation in the national Security Council or the provincial Security Council
Mawlana Abdol Hamid highlighted: “Since the beginning of the revolution, not a single Sunni representative has ever been present in the National Security Council or the Security Council of Sistan and Baluchistan Province. What made the Zahedan incident even more painful was the statement from the Provincial Security Council labeling the victims as members of a ‘separatist group.’”
The vigilance and patience of the people of the province helped clarify the issue for the authorities
We regret that the Leader’s directive regarding Bloody Friday has not yet been implemented
Mawlana Abdol Hamid remarked: “Praise be to God, when the vigilant people of the province were urged to maintain security until the perpetrators of the shootings were identified and central authorities were informed, the people showed patience and restraint. We are grateful to the people of the province, especially the families of the martyrs and the wounded.”
He continued: “This patience and restraint allowed the truth to come to light, and the matter became clear to the authorities, so much so that the Leader also issued a directive calling for a fair investigation. While I have not personally seen this directive, it has been widely reported that the Leader himself acknowledged that this event was unjust and wrongful. However, we regret that the Leader’s directive has yet to be implemented.”
The people demand a “Fair Investigation”
The Sunni Friday Imam of Zahedan emphasized: “Even now, we are calling for justice to be served, for rights to be restored, and for a fair investigation to take place. This tragedy was undoubtedly the result of discrimination, and our demand is for this discrimination to be eliminated. The problems faced by the Iranian people are national in scope, and as we have said before, if the authorities can resolve these national issues and implement justice for the Iranian people, we are ready to ask the families of the martyrs and the wounded of Bloody Friday to forgive and forgo their claims.”
He added: “We are disappointed that, following the Bloody Friday incident, instead of alleviating the people’s pain, pressures have increased, and these pressures are still ongoing, with individuals being summoned for absurd reasons. The government and state must have a broader perspective. The execution of justice will bring comfort to the people. The people’s demand is that cases be opened against everyone involved in this event, and even those who gave orders should be brought to justice.”
The interests of the Iranian Nation take precedence over all other interests and policies
At the conclusion of his Friday prayer sermon in Zahedan, Mawlana Abdol Hamid emphasized the importance of safeguarding national interests. He stated: “Today, the country is struggling with poverty and a severe economic crisis. Both urban and rural populations are suffering, and there is a drought gripping everyone. The impact of sanctions has been exacerbated by the depletion of the government’s treasury, and this empty treasury is the result of the nation’s interests being plundered and losing focus.”
He added: “National interests must take precedence over all other interests. The protection of the Iranian people’s interests is more important than any policies or objectives. We assert that national interests must be returned to the people, and that freedom, justice, and the rights of the people must be upheld. Mr. Pezeshkian’s administration faces a significant test, and we wish him success.”
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