Alluding to the ongoing crisis in Iraq, the top Iranian Sunni authority decried killing of people by ‘anyone’ and termed ‘formation of an inclusive new government’ the only way to protect Iraq from civil war and disintegration.
Shaikh Abdol-Hamid Isma’eelzahi, Khateeb of Sunnis in Zahedan, southeastern Iran, was talking to tens of thousands worshippers in the Friday gathering of June 20, 2014.
He said, “The ongoing changes in the Muslim world, especially in Iraq, have shocked all. Compassionates of Iraq are worried on the incidents take place in Iraq that they may conclude to the geographical disintegration of Iraq and a terrible wave of sectarian conflicts which damage national unity of Iraq.”
The rector of Darululoom Zahedan, the largest Sunni seminary in Iran, further said, “If we study the circumstances of the most Muslim states objectively, we will see the main reason behind the increase of extremism is injustice and neglecting the voice of people by governments. There are some people who cannot tolerate such situations; when they see all doors closed, they take arms and fight. So execution of justice, dialogue and hearing the voice of people are the best choices to fight with extremism.”
“Apart from extremist groups, some dissenters and moderate sides have also joined the armed movement against the Iraqi government. We think the only way to protect Iraq and other states which suffer from similar crises is formation of inclusive governments. There must be a government with fair participation of all communities live in those countries. All political, ethnic and religious groups should have their shares and rights in inclusive governments,” Mawlana Abdol-Hamid added more.
He reminded his previous suggestion on ‘formation of an inclusive government in Iraq’ and pointed out, “Unfortunately, some people do not pay any attention to recommendations and words of sympathetic and will-wishers. They move on with their partial, ethnic and sectarian viewpoints and finally face problems and deadlocks. Governments with political crises can survive and protect their lands by open-mindness, tolerance and formation of inclusive government; it brings different classes of any society to the scene and preserves their unity.”
Decrying killings by ‘anyone’, he said, “I think fighting and killing cannot be the remedy for such crises. I denounce killing people by any group. It is not allowed for any group, party and even government to shoot people just because of losing some rights. Because violence gives birth to more violence and conflicts. If Iraqis and other nations want to get rid of crises, they should strive to make different parts of their nations closer. Governments should sit with their opponents, regardless to their sect, race and group, and listen to them.”
The member of the IUMS underlined, “Iraq can go ahead safely if Muslim states and influential men help Iraqis to form a new government in which all groups and tendencies have their shares. They should use their power and influence to bring rival sides on the table of negotiation.”
He said, “Zionists, global arrogant powers and all enemies of Islam struggle to divide Muslims and weaken them by interior conflicts to ensure their interests. Ethnic, sectarian and partial strife is not in accordance with the interests of Muslims. Regrettably, creating disputes between Muslim states has been changed to a policy; it damages the Muslim world and Muslim nations.”
At the end of his speech, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid termed civil disputes against the interests of Islam and Muslims calling all to resolve their differences by peaceful ways and negotiations.