Independence of Islamic Centers, Demand of Shias & Sunnis

Alluding to struggles to get the control of Sunnis’ religious centers in Iran, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid of Zahedan referred to the role of mosques and religious schools in providing unity and maintaining security and urged on their independence.
He was talking to thousands of worshippers at Zahedan’s Friday gathering on January 29, 2021.

The prominent Sunni scholar of Iran stressed that mosques and religious schools should be independent and forbade from taking security measures against them.

He stated: “The history tells us and Allah knows that all mosques and seminaries of Sistan & Baluchistan, including the Grand Makki mosque of Zahedan and Darululoom Zahedan, pursue unity and fraternity. Mosques and seminaries have been very effective in maintaining unity and maintain peace and security”.

President of Darululoom Zahedan continued: “Although the security and military services have been performing their duty in this regard, but the mosques and religious centers have also been active in maintaining peace and security in the province”.

He added: ‘Maintaining peace is one of the first and main duties of scholars.’

“Once a guest from a neighboring country travelled to Zahedan and said to me: I wish we had a Darululoom in our area like Darululoom Zahedan so that we would not have witnessed division and insecurity”, the chairman of the Coordination Council of Sunni Seminaries in Sistan-Balochistan said.

The Iranian Sunnis leader urged on the necessity of independence of mosques and religious centers and said: “Restrictions should not be imposed on mosques and seminaries. It is the demand of both Shiites and Sunnis that mosques should not be under the pressure and control of the state, rather they should be independent. They should depend on common people and masses for their expenses”.

Iranshahr’s Grand Mosque pursues unity and fraternity
Pointing out to the demolition of the foundation of the Grand Mosque of Sunnis in Iranshahr, Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hamid said: “Recently, an incident took place in Iranshahr that caused public’s concerns. I ask the representative of the Supreme Leader and other officials in Sistan and Baluchestan to resolve the issue of the mosque of Iranshahr with the high vision”.

“As far as I know, I am sure that Iranshahr’s mosque pursues unity and fraternity”, he urged.

“Unfortunately, some authorities send false reports to the officials and they consider them true. However, if these reports are investigated by the scholars and aware people of the province, it will be clear that they are fake reports,” Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said.

The Friday Imam of Zahedan further emphasized that obstacles should be removed and people must be allowed to build mosques in cities or villages”.

He said: “Mosques and seminaries are centers for worship and education. The Islamic revolution of Iran was originated from universities, seminaries and mosques.”

Parliament members should defend the rights of people
In the last part of his speech, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid welcomed Dr. Hossein Ali Shahriyari, the representative of the people of Zahedan in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, for his presence in the Friday gathering of Sunnis in Zahedan and said: “Dr. Shahriyari has experiences in the health field and in the political arenas. He is the Chairman of the Health Commission of the Iranian Parliament.”

The eminent Sunni scholar of Iran referred to the historical ties between Baloch and Sistani communities and noted that they had historical, unbreakable ties that should be maintained.

Imam of the Grand Makki Mosque of Zahedan said: “Development of the province is impossible without unity”.

At the end, Mawlana Abdol-Hamid urged that the parliament members must defend the rights of the people of Sistan-Baluchistan and said: “We ask the parliament members to defend the rights of people so that they will not be oppressed. Common people cannot defend their due rights.”

“We respect the law and law is in the favor of people, but unfortunately some narrow-minded officials don’t obey the law”, he said.