Amid a big economic and political disruption in Iran, the most influential Iranian Sunni leader considered fulfilling national demands as the only way to get rid of country’s current crisis. Shaikh Abdol-Hamid described the Iranian nation as “passengers of one ship” and said that the nation was suffering from so many pain and problems.
“To cure nation’s pains, the authorities must solve people’s problems. Until the pain is not cured, the voice of the nation will not be silent,” he said.
The Friday prayer leader of Sunnis in Zahedan was talking to tens of thousands of people in the Grand Musalla of the capital city of Iranian Balochistan on June 9, 2023.
Until you don’t cure pains, nation’s cries and voices will not be silenced
Addressing the Iranian officials in Zahedan’s Friday gathering, Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hamid said: “Some expect us to tone down the criticism. Of course, everyone has opinions. We have been thinking what is happening in the country, and we concluded that today all Iranians suffer from one pain. All Iranians are passengers of one ship. Even I think the world is like a ship with various classes; all human beings and nations are passengers of this ship. In Iran, various strata of people, including religions, sects and Muslims and non-Muslims are among the ship’s passengers and have one aspiration.”
He continued his speech by saying: “Some tell me to soften the criticism. It is true that we should talk softly, but officials need to know that the different strata of people that are riding on the ship suffer from pains and problems. I do not complain about my personal problems, rather people’s problems caused me to criticize and whine. My lament represents the nation’s pain. The officials must know that this moan is due to the pain of the people and until the Iranian people have this pain, this moan is not silent.”
“We are the nation that has wealth and all kinds of facilities, but lives in crisis and struggles with challenges. Until you do not heal the pain, people will not be silent. We would like to inspire the authorities to hear the people’s voices and address their demands. Unfortunately, officials have not asked us about our problems and pains. Regarding these pains, officials have not yet addressed the case of the Bloody Friday of Zahedan. Of course, judges are engaged in the military court, but we expected an immediate handling of the case before the blood dries,” the eminent Sunni scholar of Zahedan said.
He added more: “The implementation of justice is our biggest demand in the country. Our biggest pains are national, not regional. We also have local problems. My heart is hit and in pain when I see that my people resort to illegal and dangerous transactions such as the trade of fuel and drug. We protest on drug executions. You sit with us and listen to us; we have reasons. Since the early years of the revolution, these executions had no any result for the country. People chose these ways because of the lack of jobs and they were executed and went to jail for a pittance.”
Changing domestic policies is more important than the change in foreign policies
The Iranian top Sunni leader continued his speech and said: “Iranians have immense culture and civilization, and do not want war and violence. Of course, this is our duty to fight against those who violate our rights. The Iranian people want to have good relations with all nations of the world. We are glad that the authorities have taken steps to improve relations with neighboring countries; this is a national demand. In the past, we criticized why Iran’s relations with some countries of the world were not good. Why the officials did not establish relations with the world ten or eight years ago, causing the country to reach this situation. Of course, it is not too late. We are glad to see unveiled advanced weapons, but we will be happier when the people’s demands are fulfilled and no one screams in the streets because of hunger.”
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid went on to say: “Those officials who occupy the high posts do not know what the people of villages and suburbs suffer from! Life in Tehran, which is the capital of the country, has become very difficult. Do you know about the rent? Why do not you change domestic policies? Instead of spending money on other nations, pay attention to the Iranian nation. All of us must be together, be uniting, and build Iran. I do not accept a policy that helps other nations and forgets its own nation.”
One sect cannot run the country properly
He further said: “I would like to repeat that in order to run the country’s affairs, religious thought cannot respond. We say that Iran belongs to all Iranians regardless of their race, thought, political spectrum, sect, religion, and even it is not only the country of Muslims. People of different faith, tendencies and gender live in this ship. One thought cannot decide for a large country like Iran.”
“You made the country under the rule of one party, while we also accompanied you to build it. The parliament, the presidency and the judicial are under the control of one thought and tendency, but the experience showed that this is not responsive. I’d like to repeat and say to the authorities that religious thought does not respond. You must think for all the people of Iran and see all. If one thought run the country’s affairs, it defeats,” Imam of the Grand Makki Mosque of Zahedan expressed his opinions.
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said in his last points: “To find out the solution of country’s current problems, there should be debate and everyone should have opportunities to talk. If the Sunnis think that this country belongs to the Sunnis or the Shia community thinks that this country belongs only to Shia, this thinking will not work, instead, we should have a human thought and a higher thought than sect. If I were in your place, I would get down from my chair and stand next to the people, and submit to the decisions of the nation’s elites and wisdom.”
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