There is no Wahhabism in Iran

The Special Advisor to the Iranian president on minorities, Ali Younesi, has underlined some elements exaggerate on issues like ‘Wahhabism’ and separating movements.

In an interview with Daily Etemaad, he criticized pro-regime sides on blaming Sunnis for Wahhabism. He said, “As some people exaggerate about the phenomenon of Wahhabism in Iran; it is wrong and hyperbolic. I have met some [Shia] clerics and learnt they had received wrong and biased reports about Sunnis.”

“There are some anti-Sunni movement and particular individuals who cannot show their opposition with Sunnis; they take the help of the terms like ‘Wahhabism’ and ‘Salafism’ to marginalize Sunnis,” he added more.

In another part of his interview, he informed many of prisoners from minorities have been released and some more will be freed soon.

Ali Younesi, the Intelligence Minister in the cabinet of Mohammad Khatami, has been appointed the ‘Special Advisor to the President on the Affairs of Religious Sects and Ethnic Communities’ by Dr. Hassan Rouhani, the moderate president of Iran. He had promised to employ some capable men of sects, particularly Sunni Balochs, soon.

Source: SunniOnline & Daily Etemaad