The outstanding Sunni scholar, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid Isma’eelzahi, stated “concrete walls and police state” cannot ensure peace and stability urging on the Iranian authorities to get the trust of people to bring peace in Sistan-Baluchistan.
He was talking to tens of thousands worshippers in Zahedan, southeast Iran, on Friday, 1st Nov. 2013.
Khateeb of Sunni Muslims in Zahedan, provincial capital of Sistan-Baluchistan, alluded to the recent wave of violence in the province and said, “All residents of the province, Sistan-Baluchistan, including Shia and Sunni communities do not want to see violence and insecurity in their province. The news of killing 14 border guards was shocking for everyone as people from different backgrounds condemned it.”
He added more, “Ethnic and sectarian clashes are the worst fights. Such blind fights are very disastrous and odious. There is no any rationality behind of sectarian clashes between Shia and Sunni Muslims; no one can justify such contentions. Nations would face serious damages of such disputes; people had disliked them during the entire history.”
In his Friday speech to the Sunni worshippers in Zahedan, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said the people of Iran elected Dr. Hassan Rouhani in order to witness positive changes in their lives and country. In fact, people cast their vote in favor of discretion and hope. They want the rule of moderation and sobriety; freedom of speech and religious rituals is their demands. The president has promised to implement the Constitution indiscriminately. He urged to stop illegal acts of some official entities and offices. It can ensure the rights of all Iranian sects and ethnic groups.
The chairman of the Coordination Council of the Sunni Seminaries in Sistan-Baluchistan further said, “The majority in our province, Sistan-Baluchistan elected Dr. Rouhani as the president; it indicates to the fact that our people believe in dialogue and constructive negotiations. They are against violence; unfortunately some extremists do not want to see this province peaceful and calm. These domestic and foreign elements do not wish good for the new president and pleasant of the Sunni community in Iran; the new circumstances were going to slack the extremists inside and outside of the province.”
“If the people get their due rights, they (extremists) would not have any point to justify their acts. There are some Shia fanatic groups who want to deprive others of their due rights; they want only their fellows in power, he pointed.”
The eminent Sunni leader underlined, however, the residents of Sistan-Baluchistan did not support violence; thus they elected a modern president to get their rights by dialogue.
Khateeb of Sunnis added more, “The president should be given more time to bring his plans into action. He had pointed in the introductory ceremony for the Foreign Minister that if his cabinet refused the demands of the nation, it would lose; it is good idea from a president.”
He warned some extremists who seek a restive atmosphere to get its advantages for their interests; they want to see Mr. Rouhani neglecting his motto. There must not be any disturbances for the legal government; the nation refuses such acts.
The rector of Darululoom Zahedan indicated to the issue of security in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, saying there is no difference between local dignified men and rulers. “We think this issue should be resolved by consultation and negotiations. Taking the matter of security by mere feelings and anger does not work. Durable security is the fruit of cooperation and consultation with religious scholars, tribal elders, social activists and officials. The authorities must avoid senseless behaviors; after killing of soldiers common masses should not have angst.”
Pointing out to building of long and huge concrete walls across the border in the poor province of Sistan-Baluchistan, the Sunni scholar stated, “I am against building concrete walls across the border; instead the authorities should build the wall of trust. They should give priority to attaining the trust of the nation. Then the frontier regions will be secured durably automatically. People around the world struggle to collapse dividing walls nowadays, we must not try to build such walls after their experience.”
He asked, at the end of his speech, the president to remove the police state as he had promised to do so before. The atmosphere must not be restive. The people in our province are unhappy with the police state they feel in the region. The Minister of Intelligence has also promised to finish the police state by the help of scholars and intellectuals and make people to feel discretion, peace and dialogue rule on them.