The most influential Iranian Sunni scholar criticized president Rouhani over silence of his government about the Sunni community.
Talking before Iftaar party of the president on Saturday 2nd June, 2018 in Tehran, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid addressed president Rouhani and said: “Mr. Rouhani! We carry out complaints of Sunni brothers and sisters; many of friends opposed my presence in this feast of Iftaar, but I told them we had paid for the president and we shouldn’t give up easily. Rather we should convey our words directly to him.”
“Despite severe discrimination and inequality, the Sunni community took part in presidential election. Like other Iranians, Sunnis also want changes and removal of discrimination,” he underlined.
President of Darululoom Zahedan said in the meeting of Sunni elites with Hasan Rouhani: “About 40 years have passed since the victory of the revolution and Islamic republic of Iran, but the Sunni community still suffers from the serious problem of “discrimination”.”
“Sunnis [of Iran] want to have participation in their fate and decision making centers and offices including armed forces. They want to serve their country,” he added more.
Mawlana Abdol-Hamid pointed out to the historical letter of the supreme leader about removing discrimination and said: “Despite the order of the leader, any tangible result has not been achieved yet.”
He asked the president to convey the message of the Sunni community that he himself and the president were requested to take care of the Sunni community directly.
“The country needs unity and national peace more than any other time. For obtaining these goals, ethnic and religious communities should get their due rights and their voice should be heard,” Shaikh Abdol-Hamid clearly said.