‘None is allowed to interfere our religious affairs’

Here in Zahedan while delivering Eid khutba (speech) in front of more than two lakes people the imam and khatib of Jumma prayer for sunnis Shaikh Abdul Hameed said, “we are much sorry we have not achieved our keen desires and wishes by great Islamic revolution. Even though thirty years of this revolution have passed still the distinctive activities are not finished, and the responsible authorities got fail to create actual unity, brotherhood, and keeping balance in giving rights, rather these difficulties still exist and certainly snatched the peace of inhabitants”.

Pointing out the pressures which are imposed on religious activities respected Shaikh said, “Since that time we have been keeping patience whatever is exercised with us, but we never thought that such exercises will be extended to wards our religious affairs. But it has increased in the last few years, some times the organization of religious schools of sunni community is established, the educational system which they designed in the mentioned organization is not accepted by Ahl e Sunnat wal Jamaat(sunni Islamic scholars), moreover not only the Iran constitution has given free hand to sunnis rather the world level rules have authorized the minorities to make their educational system as their believes required it, as it is signed by Iran government as well. In the same way it creates many suspicions for us that few narrow minded elements mostly try to force their individual thoughts on sunni community, we discussed a lot with such elements and talked to them to maintain peace, and have unity as well as the brotherhood, following the pact the Iran government has right to check religious activities but they are not allowed to interfere their curriculum, and Islamic schools as well as masques must be unshaken in their affairs”.

Talking about the annual ceremony which is held for the respect of those students who accomplish their learning classes, Sheikh said, “it is al so narrow mindedness when some Islamic scholars were invited to participate this blessed ceremony but unfortunately all the ways were blocked and they were not allowed to join this holy ceremony where the last Hadeath of Bukhari sharif was al so recited in”.

Respected Shaikh added more, “it is extremism that some extremist authorities banned sunni community to offer Eid prayer having leaded by sunni imam in Tehran, and they were ordered to follow the leader of revolution in Eid prayer. Not only in Tehran rather the sunni communit was banned in other big cities as well to have their Eid & Jumma congregation such as: Yazd, Kirman, and Asfahan where these two important prayers were offered by sunni congregation. We never thought that our brothers will ban their sunni brothers in Tehran to have Eid congregation at their territories. We do not know which kind of damage will occur with their system if a person offers prayer at his home? Is it reasonable to force some one to have prayers having leaded by particular person? Is it possible to force some one to do the deeds what they are not satisfied to do it? As I have been leading Jumma prayer in Zahedan city since more than seventeen years but I complained no one why they do not offer Jumma prayer leading me? Even though some of them are my students”.

Shaikh added that we are muslims and Islam is independent and it is the religion of peace, there are many people who prefer to have prayers following others rather than me, we hope the government to courage the people for offering prayers not to prevent them.

Sheikh continued saying: we hoped the government that they would have broad mindedness with sunni community to allow them for building masque in Tehran; because it is clear that masques whether they are sheea masques or sunni masques exisist in entire world, and it makes us much worried that Tehran which is declared the mother of cities for the whole world by the leader of revolution is the only city where a single masque for sunni community does not exist over ther.

Respected Shaikh warned that sunni community will never be quiet when their religious rights are destroyed and the red lines are crossed, certainly we are keeping peace and unity in the country, that is why we never asked much more our political rights what we are being kept deprived of it, but now we are witnessing interference in our religious affairs which is increasing day by day, government must know there is no value of our lives if our believes are attacked, certainly our lives are not more respectable than our believes.

Shaikh said more, “it is our right to offer Eid prayer in Tehran, there is no example in the entire world to prevent some one to offer prayer in masque or in his home. Rather I complain to sheea scholars more than the government; because they have powers in such cities to take care of our rights. There are many cities where sheea community is minority despite they are in minority they are partners with the government in political & economical issues, but they are independent in their religious affairs, they have their masques and other religious places more over they can do their activities independently. But why we are banned here in Iran to offer prayers having leaded by a sunny Islamic scholar”.

Respected Shaikh said,” it clearly that such extremist activities from some individuals create sects, and terrorism, that is why I asked strongly to stop it in order our unity not be destroyed and our government not be damaged, especially the leader of revolution is asked to handle such activities, every one must know that we never sacrifice our religious affairs, rather there is no value of our lives when our belies would be destroyed, it should be clear that we are not foreigners rather we are Iranis, we are not enemies of our political system, we try to solve the problems by discussions, Irani government should keep in their mind that we never can meet the expense of our ideologies and holy places.

At the end of his speech sheikh said: we are like other iranis we were together before the revolution so we should be united after it al so”.