Shaikh Abdol-Hamid has urged in his latest statement the Iranian Sunni community preserves fraternity and wants the president to fulfil his promises on the rights of ethnic groups and sects.
Talking to more than one hundred thousand Sunnis gathered in Darululoom Zahedan on Thursday 29 May, 2014 to participate in the graduation ceremony of the seminary, the rector of Darululoom Zahedan said, “The votes of Sunni citizens to Dr. Rouhani have made it clear that Sunnis want full and equal implementation of the national constitution. They want removal of discrimination in all levels; there must not be any partial or personal execution of law. Sunnis cost their votes in favor of Rouhani to see freedom of speech and get other liberties stated in the constitution. They want to be participated in the management of their country and stop of discriminative rules in employment.”
“These are the main demands of Sunnis; they are our due rights not more. If we get our due rights and respect, it will be in accordance with the interests of the ruling regime, and Shia and Sunni communities; this is the way to strengthen fraternity and national unity. We ask the ‘government of hope and discretion’ to fulfill its promises regarding the matters of ethnic and religious groups. The Sunni community will play a key role in bringing brotherhood and national unity in future as the past,” Mawlana Abdol-Hamid underlined.
He called on Muslim sects to focus on common points and said, “All Muslim sects believe in Islam; this perfect religion gathers us. Shia and Sunnis must avoid sectarian disputes; instead they should focus on their common tenets and points. The Noble Qur’an asks the followers of other divine religions to gather and agree upon the common tenet of monotheism. Muslim sects have much more for unity.”
The outstanding Sunni leader shed light on stances and viewpoints of the Iranian Sunni community and said, “The Iranian Sunnis agree on some points unanimously; they believe in unity and fraternity of Sunnis and Shias. It has roots in Islamic teachings, thus different classes and communities of the Sunni community have no differences in this regard. This unity is not any political unity as the European Union countries have; Muslims’ unity is ‘Islamic’ which has root in the Qur’an.”
“Secondly, they (Sunnis) have consensus on the constitution. Although there are some weak points in the national law which can be rectified by referendum but it is one of the best constitutions across the world. Sunnis take part in different elections that is a clue Sunnis accept the rule of the Islamic Republic of Iran. They respect the leader and follow his orders,” he added more.
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid urged on ‘pursuit of demands by dialogue’ and went on to say more, “The Iranian Sunnis unanimously urge on peaceful ways to pursue their demands and get their rights by dialogue. They refuse assassination, murder and violence. We endure imprisonment but do not take arms and violent ways to resolve our problems. All Sunni Ulama in the country refuse and denounce violence in any shape and way. Thus, I would like to call on all armed men inside or outside of the country to give up their weapons and follow the matters by dialogue.”
Khateeb of Sunnis in Zahedan reminded the audience, “There is no any difference between Baluch and non-Baluch communities in our view, as we do not see any discrimination between Shias and Sunnis. The murder of a Baluch or a Persian is equal in our viewpoints. We are sure about the accuracy of our opinion.”
Alluding to the problem of Islamic education of Sunnis in Iran, Mawlana Abdol-Hamid stated, “Sunnis of Iran live in different provinces and cities including metropolises; they need education and some places for establishing prayers. There should not be any restriction or ban on the education of our children. I would like to request my Sunni brothers and sisters to establish their prayers fraternally; the constitution allows them to offer prayers freely.”
In another part of his speech, the chairman of the Coordination Council of Sunni Seminaries in Sistan-Baluchistan addressed Ulama and people of Sunni-populated Kurdistan and Golestan provinces, saying, “I have a message for Sunnis especially their Ulama in Kurdistan and Golestan to make plans for Islamic education of sisters. The bone contention of many problems in the society returns to education. We are ready to help and share our experiences with Ulama of these regions in this field.”
At the end of his speech, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid urged on respect of Ulama regardless to their sects and said, “Sanctity of scholars whether they are Sunnis or Shias must be preserved; nobody should insult them. Offense of one scholar is, in fact, offense of all Ulama. The respect of all Muslim sects should be protected; brotherhood can be protected if sanctities are respected.”
Source: abdolhamid.net